The patients you are working with on travel therapy jobs will be coming for treatment for a variety of reasons, and one of those may be pregnancy. Due to the amount of stress and strain put on a female's body while she is carrying a child, PT may provide her with some much needed relief. Additionally, according to the American Pregnancy Association, the rehabilitation techniques used in these sessions may even allow the woman's body to experience a smoother and easier delivery.
Physical therapy moves
If you are working with a patient who is pregnant on a travel physical therapy assignment, there are certain workouts that may be more beneficial than others. For one, using an exercise ball to alleviate low back pain can be a great option. Moves such as leg extensions and posterior pelvic tilts with an exercise ball are great for moms-to-be. Some other options you may want to consider include:
- Deep squat stretch: Using a wall for support, instruct the patient to spread her legs apart and lower her body toward the floor while bending her knees out in front of her. This will stretch the inner thighs and pelvic floor, and should be held for five deep breaths.
- Back stretch: Women who are experiencing back pain due to pregnancy may benefit from this move. While standing, have the patient bend at the hips and place her arms on a surface that is about hip-high. Her back should remain flat, while her arms stay straight. One at a time, instruct the patient to bring each hand forward, palm-side down. Each stretch should be held for 10 seconds.
- Butterfly stretch: You'll likely remember this stretch from gym class, where you bring both feet together while sitting on the ground. The patient should pull her knees toward the ground in order to feel resistance in the inner thighs. This can be completed twice, for a length of 30 seconds each time.
These are just a few of the options you have when working with a pregnant mother on travel PT jobs. Depending on which exercises you implement, she will likely experience a number of benefits as a result. Modern Mom explains that physical therapy during pregnancy can help maintain fecal and urinary continence following birth, prevent scar tissue, alleviate back and pelvic pain and ensure overall wellness for the mother. Just be sure to maintain a dialog and get a medical history from your patient before beginning treatment.