Aquatic Therapy for the Pregnant Client
Presented by Kim Gordon
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Pregnancy can be an exciting time for most women, but for others, because of all the physical changes that occur, it is riddled with pain. Numerous anatomical and physical changes create challenges for the physical therapist to treat. The therapist must treat pregnant women differently than other patients, taking into consideration both the mother and the baby. This class is appropriate for the physical therapist and occupational therapist, both in outpatient and inpatient settings.
Meet your instructor
Kim Gordon
Kimberly Gordon, MPT, graduated from Mayo Clinic's School of Health Related Sciences with her Master's degree in Physical Therapy. She began practicing in an outpatient sports medicine clinic in Sarasota, FL, where her caseload consisted of orthopedic and post-surgical clients, including older adults with torn knee and ankle…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Treatment of Choice
Aquatic therapy can be a great treatment of choice for the pregnant client due to the properties of water. This chapter will review the properties of water and why it creates the ideal environment to treat the pregnant client.
2. Precautions and Contraindications
It is critical that the therapist understand precautions and contraindications to treatment in this patient population, as they are not merely treating the mother, but also affecting the baby. This chapter will address common precautions and how to modify treatment to accommodate them, as well as contraindications to performing aquatic therapy for the pregnant client.
3. Pregnancy Posture
Normal pregnancy posture is not the same as an ideal posture for the non-pregnant client. The therapist should have an understanding of normal and abnormal postural changes in their client. This chapter will review both normal and abnormal pregnancy posture.
4. Common Ailments and Treatment Ideas: Upper Body
Common areas of musculoskeletal conditions that affect the pregnant client include: neck/upper back strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, costal rib pain, and diastasis recti abdominis. This chapter will give a brief review of why these are common ailments and demonstrate 2-4 manual or exercise techniques in the water that can be used to address these common ailments.
5. Common Ailments and Treatment Ideas: Lower Body
Common areas of musculoskeletal conditions that affect the pregnant client include: low back pain, SI joint pain, piriformis pain, leg varicosities, and foot changes. This chapter will provide an overview of why these are common ailments and demonstrate 2-4 manual or exercise techniques in the water that can be used to address them.
