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Written by Clara O'Rourke of Clear Light Birth
In this episode, we dove into the following:
Pelvic floor therapy has been an eye-opening revelation in my journey towards understanding the complexities of women's health, especially during and after childbirth. Preparing for Birth - Embracing the Importance of Pelvic Floor Therapy As someone who's experienced pregnancy, I know that the focus often tends to be on the imminent arrival of the baby rather than the necessary preparations for a smoother childbirth. Dr. Brandie articulated the importance of seeking pelvic floor therapy during pregnancy itself, shedding light on its relevance not just after childbirth but also before. The therapy assists in managing pelvic pain, preparing the body for labor, reducing the likelihood of tears during delivery, and addressing issues like diastasis recti. It’s about equipping oneself with knowledge and techniques that empower and make childbirth less daunting. Dr. Brandie also dispelled the misconceptions around pelvic size being a significant factor in birthing complications, emphasizing that pelvic floor tension often poses more challenges. By addressing this tension through therapy, the body can better accommodate childbirth, debunking the myth that pelvic size is a determining factor.   Traditional treatment includes preventative medications, rescue medications, & botox injections. But did you know physical therapy can alleviate your headaches and migraines without medication?
How Common Are Headaches/Migraines? It is estimated at least 39 million Americans live with migraines. 1 in 6 Americans report having a headache in the last year (1). Research shows that nearly 70% of women who have pelvic pain also experience migraines (2). Is There Anything I Can Do? Stretching neck muscles, especially those that can refer pain to the head, can be helpful to decrease pain, stiffness, and tightness in the muscles contributing to headaches. Stretching the trapezius and suboccipital muscles can be incredibly helpful. Hold the first stretch for 30 seconds, repeating 3 times on each side. Perform the second stretch for 30 seconds, repeating three times. For the last exercise, tuck your chin back and hold for 3 seconds, repeat 10 times. How Can Physical Therapy Help? Physical Therapists can perform dry needling, which is very effective in treating headaches and it has been proven to be just as effective as botox injections (3, 4). What is Dry Needling? Dry needling is a technique that uses thin, flexible, acupuncture needles into the muscle to decrease pain and muscle spasm while increasing blood flow and promoting healing (5). While needles may sound intimidating, most people describe an achy pain when it is inserted into the tight muscle that contributes to their headache pain, but patients are usually pleasantly surprised how gentle it is. Is It Safe? Yes! Dry needling is very safe. The most common side effect is muscle soreness. Incidences of serious adverse events are incredibly rare. The risk of infection is only 0.014%, for example (6). How Long Until I Feel Relief? Most patients report a significant improvement after the first visit or two. We find patients get the most relief when pairing the dry needling with a gentle electrical tingle to calm down the muscles and the nerves. |