We offer advice on a variety of pain relieving options, activity modification, posture and positions of comfort following our assessment. Education on comfortable feeding positions postnatally can be really beneficial for those with postnatal musculoskeletal pain.  We offer advice on the use of different pregnancy support belts and can recommend them when needed.

We are trained in the use of different manual therapy techniques, including joint mobilisations, manipulations and soft tissue treatments. These can reduce pain and encourage improved movement patterns.

Our team offer soft tissue techniques to help relieve symptoms. Our Women’s Health Sport Massage service delivers antenatal and postnatal massage which is specifically designed to tailor your sports massage to meet your needs during and after pregnancy.

During pregnancy there is often a postural change to accommodate the weight of your growing baby. We can teach techniques to retrain your postural muscles antenatally and postnatally. We also discuss options for optimal positions for feeding your baby and offer advice on baby carriers to suit you and your baby.

During pregnancy your breathing pattern can be altered, due to pressure on the lungs from your growing baby. This can affect your thoracic spine and ribs. We teach breathing techniques to ensure full lung utilisation and to encourage thoracic mobility. Breathing techniques can be helpful both pre and postnatally for relaxation.

Your pelvic floor muscles are under increasing strain as your pregnancy progresses and are likely to need retraining regardless of the method of delivery of your baby. The pelvic floor muscles are integral to pelvic stability and play a key role in helping recover from low back pain and pelvic girdle pain. We teach you how to activate your pelvic floor muscles and create an individualised training programme to strengthen them.

Antenatal and postnatal Pilates can be hugely beneficial in ensuring a full return to all activities after having a baby. Keeping as strong and mobile as you can during pregnancy will help prepare you for the challenges of labour and improve your recovery after having your baby. Antenatal Pilates targets the key muscle groups which are affected by the hormonal and postural changes which naturally occur during pregnancy. Following your 6 week GP check, it is usually safe to return to postnatal Pilates. Our postnatal Pilates classes are baby friendly and focus on strengthening the affected muscle groups to help you return to all areas of life after having your baby.

Taping can be used to provide pain relief to pelvic structures and can be hugely beneficial to some patients. Tape can give extra support to your lower back and it can also help to offload the structures around the pelvis, both during and after pregnancy.

Acupuncture can be used for pain relief for pregnancy related conditions. Our Women’s Health team are specially trained in the use of acupuncture and it is safe to be performed antenatally. Acupuncture can be used postnatally for pain relief alongside other treatment techniques.

It is safe to strength train during pregnancy and it is advised that your programme is designed by a Women’s Health Physiotherapist. Targeting your legs, glutes, core and back to maintain or improve strength will help as you progress through pregnancy and prepares you for labour. Following your 6 week GP check, it is normally safe to resume strength training but it is advisable, if you do so, to seek an assessment with a Women’s Health Physio. This ensures you target the specific areas important to you. 

Prenatal massages are generally considered safer after the first trimester. Most expectant mothers find that they are feeling their best in the second trimester when hopefully, any pregnancy sickness has receded and energy levels have increased. We offer pregnancy massage at our Sutton and Woking clinics. We have specially training Sport Massage Therapists who deliver individualised antenatal sports massages. Antenatal and postnatal sports massage can relieve pain and can be a great relaxation technique.

Massage during pregnancy has significant benefits for both mother-to-be and developing baby. As the body adjusts to prepare itself for labour, massage can help alleviate aches and pains and provides invaluable time for rest and relaxation. Massage during pregnancy can help to alleviate tension and reduce stress whilst improving circulation, in turn increasing the supply of oxygenated blood and nutrients to both mother and baby. During pregnancy the mothers centre of gravity shifts, as the weight of baby and mother increases, added stress is placed on the joints. Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause joints and ligaments to soften leading many women to experience discomfort, particularly in the lower back and pelvic region. 

After childbirth, massage can help provide relief from aches and pains associated with the labour process, especially those commonly experienced in the back, neck and shoulders. Massage can alleviate fluid retention and promote relaxation, helping to restore a sense of well-being in the mother. 

• Reduces stress levels
• Helps minimise back and sciatic nerve pain
• Relieves muscle aches and leg cramps
• Helps to improve circulation and relieve water retention
• Boosts energy levels
• Helps to ease anxiety and depression caused by hormonal changes
• Helps to relieve insomnia and promote relaxation