After childbirth, many women experience lingering hip pain that may interfere with daily activities and even impact the joy of bonding with their newborn. This discomfort can be caused by the shifting of the pelvis during pregnancy, weakened muscles, and the physical demands of labour. But there’s good news—hip physiotherapy in Edmonton can help alleviate this pain and restore your hip’s function. At Turning Point Physiotherapy Clinic, we focus on specific techniques and exercises to target post-childbirth hip pain.
Why Does Hip Pain Occur After Childbirth?
Hip pain after childbirth can stem from various factors. During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin loosens ligaments to prepare the body for childbirth, but it may leave the hips vulnerable to instability. The pelvic floor muscles supporting the hip may weaken after delivery. This combination of loosened ligaments and weakened muscles often results in pain and reduced mobility in the hip area. Incorporating physiotherapy into your daily routine can effectively address these issues and restore function.
What Are The Physiotherapy Techniques Involved In Hip Pain Post-Childbirth?
Hip physiotherapy in Edmonton is practical and can significantly accelerate recovery and provide long-lasting relief. We offer personalized techniques that address the underlying causes of hip pain, promoting improved stability, flexibility, and healing. The methods are listed below,
Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)
DNS is a unique rehabilitation technique that restores proper movement patterns by retraining the body’s neuromuscular system. During pregnancy and childbirth, the neuromuscular pathways between the brain and muscles can become disrupted, which leads to instability and pain in the hips and pelvis. DNS helps reconnect the brain to the muscles, enabling better control and stability of the pelvic region.
In a DNS session, our physiotherapists guide you through movements that mimic developmental patterns, like crawling or rolling, which infants use to develop motor control. These movements help activate and strengthen the core muscles, including the pelvic stabilizers and hip muscles. By retraining the neuromuscular system this way, DNS restores proper movement patterns, reducing hip pain and enhancing stability.
Visceral Mobilization
Visceral mobilization is a manual therapy that focuses on the movement of internal organs and how they relate to musculoskeletal pain. After childbirth, organs like the uterus can shift positions, creating tension in the surrounding muscles and fascia, leading to hip pain. This technique gently improves the mobility of internal organs, reducing strain on the pelvic region and hips.
Our physiotherapists use gentle hands-on techniques to assess and manipulate the movement of organs in the pelvic and abdominal cavities. This promotes freedom of movement within the fascia and muscles surrounding the hips, alleviating the tension caused by post-pregnancy changes. The increased mobility reduces the hip joint pain and restores balance.
Cupping Therapy for Myofascial Release
Cupping therapy is an ancient practice recently integrated into modern physiotherapy for its effectiveness in relieving muscle and fascial tension. For post-childbirth hip pain, cupping can be particularly beneficial in releasing tightness in the hip and pelvic muscles caused by labour. The suction created by cupping improves blood flow, helps break down adhesions, and reduces muscle stiffness.
Our physiotherapist places specialized cups on your hip area during a session to create suction on the skin and underlying tissues. The suction pulls blood into the tight muscles and fascia, loosening the tissue and promoting healing. This is particularly effective for women who experience stiffness or muscle tightness after childbirth.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Stretching
PNF stretching is a technique that improves muscle flexibility and strength through resistance and relaxation phases. Many women suffer from tight hip muscles that restrict movement and cause pain after childbirth. PNF helps increase muscle flexibility and strength, leading to better hip mobility and reduced discomfort.
Our physiotherapists assist in stretching your hip muscles and then have you actively resist the stretch for a few seconds before relaxing into it. This combination of resistance and relaxation increases flexibility more effectively than traditional stretching methods, making it ideal for post-childbirth recovery.
For example, Lie on your back and lift one leg straight into the air. Our physiotherapist will gently stretch your hamstrings while you push against the resistance for a few seconds. Then, relax and allow the stretch to deepen. Repeat on the other side. This exercise improves hip flexibility through hip physiotherapy and reduces tightness in the muscles that support the hips.
Reclaim Your Strength with Physiotherapy After Childbirth
At Turning Point Physiotherapy Clinic, we use a combination of treatments to target the root causes of pain and enhance recovery. Our hip physiotherapy in Edmonton ensures that each woman receives personalized care to restore strength, stability, and hip mobility. Don’t let post-childbirth hip pain hold you back. Contact us to guide you in enjoying pain-free movement. Start your recovery journey with us and experience relief like never before.
