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Physical Therapy in the Acute Postpartum Phase

Cynthia Neville, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD, OTR/L, CMDCP, CDP

September 21, 2016

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Question

Is there a case for direct PT intervention in the acute postpartum phase?  After c-section?  

Answer

On the bedside, I would say absolutely that women can benefit from intervention on the bedside. This is an acute abdominal surgery. Providing them with an abdominal binder, teaching them about how to assess the health of their incision, how to monitor the incision, and how to start beginning contracting the abdominal muscles. Yes, the had a C-section, but they can still contract the abdominal muscles? Can they perform isometric contractions? Letting them know that after six weeks there should be no more pain and that the scar should move normally. Teaching them huffing, the bridge and twist is possible. All those things can be performed on the bedside. Unfortunately in the acute hospital environment, you don't get any extra reimbursement for more physical therapy, so there needs to be a philosophical support for intervention for pregnant and postpartum women from a leadership level.


cynthia neville

Cynthia Neville, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD, OTR/L, CMDCP, CDP

Dr. Neville is a board-certified Women’s’ Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) and President of her consulting and education firm, Neville Know-How, Inc. She is currently providing clinical patient care as a pelvic health physical therapist and is an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida. A highlight of her career was developing the first credentialled Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency Program in the state of Florida at Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville. She has published several peer-reviewed research articles and textbook chapters. She has been practicing and teaching pelvic health physical therapy courses for over 30 years.


Related Courses

Physical Therapist Management of Pelvic Floor Tension Myalgia: When Your Patient Has Pain "Down There"
Presented by Cynthia Neville, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD
Recorded Webinar

Presenter

Cynthia Neville, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD
Course: #4358Level: Intermediate2 Hours
  'The instructor explains things very clear'   Read Reviews
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Editor's Note: Regarding Pennsylvania credits, this course is approved by the PA State Board of Physical Therapy for 1 hour of general and 1 hour of Direct Access CE credit.

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  'The course is not excellent'   Read Reviews
Abdominal scars, adhesions, and nerve entrapments are a source of abdominal and pelvic musculoskeletal pain symptoms. This course will examine and discuss physical therapist examination and treatment of musculoskeletal symptoms that may be caused by or associated with abdominal scars, adhesions, and abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapments. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT and PTA.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders in Women's Health Physical Therapy: Look For the Zebra
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  'Good overview'   Read Reviews
Women with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) have a high rate of pelvic floor disorders, and EDS and HSD are highly prevalent in women with pelvic health impairments. This course provides physical therapists with an evidence-based update on EDS, HSDs, and pelvic health and will explore clinical reasoning in pelvic physical therapy treatment for this diverse patient population. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

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  'she was extremely knowledgeable and able to communicate that knowledge to us in a way that we could capture the essence of the practice of it'   Read Reviews
MRI studies show that with the performance of correct pelvic floor muscle contraction, the coccyx should move cranially, and with adequate pelvic floor muscle relaxation, the coccyx should move causally. This course examines the importance of the coccyx to the function of the pelvic floor muscles, discusses how coccyx impairments may contribute to pelvic floor muscle disorders, and explore physical therapy treatment options for coccyx impairments. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

Basic Physical Therapy Treatment of Constipation
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This basic course will introduce clinicians to the physical therapy treatment of constipation. Participants will gain skill and knowledge in simple interventions to improve bowel evacuation that they will be able to apply immediately in the clinic. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

Editor's Note: Regarding Pennsylvania credits, this course is approved by the PA State Board of Physical Therapy for 1 hour of general and 1 hour of Direct Access CE credit.

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