Being pregnant has its share of ups and downs, no matter if it’s your first child or you’re on number three. Your body goes through so many changes and one day you may be glowing and the next you wonder if your body will ever feel the same again. With all the different changes occurring, many women deal with a variety of pain ailments associated with their pregnancy. We know this is one of the last things moms-to-be want to deal with but properly deal with it they must.
The truth is, when your body hurts, your baby hurts too. Babies can experience stress induced by the mother, especially when blood pressure rises. It’s important that you take care of the pain and make sure you feel your best as you prepare to bring your baby into the world. And one of the best ways to reduce pregnancy pain is aquatic therapy. As a low-impact therapy, it’s an ideal way to help relax muscles, improve flexibility, reduce swelling, and provide a safe exercise environment. Let’s go into more detail of how aquatic therapy can help with pregnancy pain relief.
What is Aquatic Therapy?
Before we jump into the benefits, let’s explain exactly what aquatic therapy consists of. Aquatic therapy is a series of specific exercises performed in water. The buoyancy of the water provides excellent support of the body while providing pain reduction in a comfortable and relaxing environment.
Now, let’s explain why aquatic therapy has been proven to help.
Reduces back pain
Pregnant women are no stranger to back pain due to carrying the extra weight around. Plus, the chemical, “Relaxin” is released during pregnancy and this helps loosen ligaments to help prepare for childbirth. This causes back pain for many pregnant women and aquatic therapy can help provide relief.
It helps strengthen muscles in the core and legs, which can be crucial for reducing back pain. Performing exercises in the water are easier as it removes up to 80% of one’s body weight during exercising and the buoyancy relaxes tired muscles.
Swelling relief
A common side effect of pregnancy is, unfortunately, swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet. Aquatic therapy is the perfect environment as water naturally increases circulation and helps decrease swelling.
Safe exercise environment
That last thing you want is to have an accidental fall while exercising during your pregnancy. Exercising in the water reduces this risk and gives you a safe place to workout during the pregnancy. Also, performing exercises in the water reduces body weight and makes movement more comfortable without overdoing it.
Staying active while being pregnant has been known to help the weight come off faster after your pregnancy and offers lighter workouts without adding strain or pain.
Try aquatic therapy at Ferrell-Whited Physical Therapy today to help reduce pregnancy pain.
If you’re currently pregnant and experiencing chronic pain or just looking for a safe place to exercise, Ferrell-Whited offers the aquatic therapy classes you need at two of their locations. We promise once you take part in one of our classes, you will see that aquatic therapy is one of the best ways to relieve pain carried by your growing belling.
Plus, it’s a great way to get moving and give your body a break for an hour or so.
Learn more about our therapy pool locations and class schedule.