Conditions we commonly treat
- Pelvic girdle and low back pain in pregnancy
- Postnatal recovery and return to exercise
- Abdominal separation, also called diastasis recti
- Pelvic floor weakness and related symptoms
- Rib and upper back pain in later pregnancy
- Safe strength training through pregnancy
How we treat it
A private, unhurried assessment
These are symptoms people put off mentioning for years, often because nobody asked. The appointment is private, you set the pace, and nothing happens without your agreement.
Pelvic floor work that is specific to you
Not everyone needs the same thing. Some pelvic floors are weak, others are already overactive and need to learn to let go. Generic clenching advice makes the second group worse.
Load the body back up gradually
Returning to running or lifting after birth is a loading problem like any other. It needs a graded build rather than a date on the calendar, and it is entirely achievable.
Strength through pregnancy is safe
Staying active during pregnancy is protective for both back pain and delivery. We adapt what you already do rather than telling you to stop.
What your first appointment involves
- 1
History
What happened, what makes it better and worse, and what you need to get back to.
- 2
Examination
Movement testing and hands on assessment to identify which structure is producing your symptoms.
- 3
Explanation
A plain language account of what we found, including what it is not, which is often the more reassuring half.
- 4
A plan you start that day
Treatment in the session, plus the specific things to do before the next one.
When it is worth booking in
- Leaking when you cough, sneeze, laugh or run
- A feeling of heaviness or dragging in the pelvis
- Pelvic girdle or low back pain during pregnancy
- A gap or doming along the midline of the abdomen after birth
- Pain with intercourse, or ongoing scar discomfort
- You want to return to exercise but do not know where to start
How long does it usually take?
Often 4 to 8 sessions, with a programme you continue at home between visits.
Common questions
- How soon after birth can I be seen?
- A check from around six weeks is typical, though you can come earlier if something is worrying you. There is no upper limit either. Problems from years ago still respond.
- Is an internal examination necessary?
- It is the most accurate way to assess pelvic floor function, but it is always your choice and never a condition of treatment. A great deal can be assessed and treated without one.
- Can I keep exercising while pregnant?
- In almost all cases yes, and it is beneficial. What usually changes is the load and the positions, not whether you train at all.
Further reading
Book an appointment
Start with a women's health and postnatal assessment
Your first appointment is a full assessment: history, hands on examination and movement testing, followed by an explanation of what we found and the plan to fix it. You leave with something to do that day, not just a follow up booking.
Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am to 8:00 pmSunday: By appointment