As your pregnancy progresses, there will be changes in your body to accommodate your baby. These changes sometimes can case stress and result in musculoskeletal dysfunction. These dysfunction often manifests as pain, especially in your pelvic girdle and back. Etonia’s approach to these symptoms involves analyzing the structure of the body to identify and correct these dysfunctions. Palpation, range of motion, and observation are used to reveal distortions of the pelvis, sacrum, and spine.

To reduce the stiffness, pain and discomfort brought about by these changes, Etonia’s physiotherapists apply various strategies in the restoration of spinal and pelvic girdle mobility and stability that often results in a reduction in the patient’s pain and spasm. Strategies include manual techniques, such as joint mobilization, muscle energy technique, myofascial release and pelvic girdle stabilization exercises.

Mobilisation

Mobilisation has always had its efficacy described in terms of improving mobility in areas of the spine that are restricted. Such restriction may be found in joints, connective tissues or muscles. By removing the restriction – by mobilisation – the source of pain is eliminated and the patient experiences symptomatic relief.

Muscle Energy Technique

Muscle Energy Technique (MET) uses precise positioning of the body in conjunction with very light muscle contractions to re-educate muscle whose dysfunctional tone distorts the body and causes asymmetry. Special emphasis is placed on the back and pelvic girdle, which control the functional core of the body. This technique is very gentle on the patient and can be very effective in relieving a variety of musculoskeletal dysfunctions, including symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD).

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release uses manual, deep tissue release to lengthen shortened connective tissues. The release helps to induce a state of relaxation for the muscles that are tense due to the stresses of pregnancy. Manual stretching by the therapist and self stretching by the patient further this process. Lengthened and weakened muscles are then strengthened with gentle resistive exercises.

Pelvic girdle stabilization exercises will be incorporated in the management to help maintain stability and thus alleviate pains from pelvis, sacrum, and spine.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is an advanced therapy where a range of specialised and gentle rhythmic pumping techniques to move the skin in the direction of the lymph flow. This stimulates the lymphatic vessels and increase the rate of removal of waste products, toxins and excess fluid from the body’s tissues resulting in reduced fluid retention, swelling and puffiness such as of the ankles.