the benefits of prenatal stretching for moms-to-be
By Kristina Grinovich Minear, L/PTA, E-RYT 200
To say that the body undergoes a rapid change during pregnancy is an understatement. Blood volume doubles causing fatigue, elevated heart rate, and increased respiratory rate. Gastric motility decreases causing digestive issues like constipation and heartburn. And growing an entire new human and a new organ, the placenta, causes a whole cascade of musculoskeletal transformation on the pregnant body’s physiology, including an altered gait, low back pain, and lower leg swelling.
Modified Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose for 2nd and 3rd trimester when laying flat on your back may not feel good! If you don’t have a physioball to lean against, try a couple couch cushions!
While cankles can feel like yet another bothersome side-effect to the incredible feat of being able to create new life, there are ways to alleviate your discomfort. Elevating your feet on a pillow or performing a modified legs-up-the-wall-pose, doing ankle pumps, and taking a prenatal-safe yoga class, like our “FREE ALL LEVEL YOGA” at FIXXED Studios can all be helpful in reducing lower limb swelling. You can also try assisted stretching with us!
Assisted stretching can be extremely helpful in reducing swelling and inflammation, as well as improve your range of motion, and as your pregnancy progresses and your belly gets bigger, you may find it hard to effectively stretch your legs and hips by yourself. Safely stretching your hips can also alleviate low back pain - an all-too-common side-effect that many pregnant people experience during their second and third trimester.
Assisted stretching done by a professional is also beneficial when you want to be extra mindful of not over-stretching during pregnancy - which can happen easily due to the influx of relaxin, the hormone that gets released in the body throughout pregnancy that helps loosen ligaments to prepare for birth.
Still feeling bogged down? We can also use a massage gun to add more stimulation to your overworked lower limbs to help add a percussive therapy to reduce pain and swelling.
The bottom line is that there is no reason to waddle through pregnancy with any more discomfort than you have to. Book your assisted stretch fixx with us today and start to feel looser, more relaxed, and better able to move your amazing body!
Fixxed is a first of its kind recovery studio offering bodywork techniques to help you move and feel your best. We offer quick and effective hands-on services in a one on one setting performed by a licensed physical therapist or athletic trainer. Click HERE to book a free consultation with FIXXED!
