Safety rules for physical activity after birth

Physical Therapist Deena Goodman, PT, explains the most important safety rules for new mothers when exercising postpartum
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Safety rules for physical activity after birth

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The activities a new mom should avoid immediately postpartum, within that first six to eight weeks; would be, running, which is high impact. Any high impact activity or sport, carrying anything heavy like, water bottles or anything that is heavier than their baby, because it puts strain on the muscles that are already stretched out. There is a lot of what we call, ligament and joint laxity in the body because they have just had a baby. Whether or not they have had a vaginal delivery or a c-section, they have hormones flowing through them. They are more vulnerable and at risk for injury. Anything where they might lift their buttocks in the air or any kind of bridging activities or swimming activities, those are activities you want to avoid before the uterus is back to its normal position. That is the determination of the physician. Your OB is the best recommendation of when you are ready to go back to your normal routine.

Physical Therapist Deena Goodman, PT, explains the most important safety rules for new mothers when exercising postpartum

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Deena Goodman, PT

Physical Therapist

Deena Poll Goodman, PT, WCS, BCIA-PMDB is the Founder and Director of Goodman Physical Therapy, Inc in West Los Angeles, CA. She is a licensed Physical Therapist with over 22 years of experience specializing in urogynecology, obstetrics, orthopedics, and pelvic health and wellness.  Goodman is one of the first in the nation to have received Board Certification as a Women's Health Clinical Specialist by the American Physical Therapy Association. She treats men and women in her private practice for pelvic and sexual pain issues, and has a passion for helping prenatal and postpartum women get their bodies back in shape. She is internationally recognized for her work in pelvic floor rehabilitation, and developed and implemented many programs during the 12 years she was on staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center including mom and baby exercise classes. 

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Transcription: 
The activities a new mom should avoid immediately postpartum, within that first six to eight weeks; would be, running, which is high impact. Any high impact activity or sport, carrying anything heavy like, water bottles or anything that is heavier than their baby, because it puts strain on the muscles that are already stretched out. There is a lot of what we call, ligament and joint laxity in the body because they have just had a baby. Whether or not they have had a vaginal delivery or a c-section, they have hormones flowing through them. They are more vulnerable and at risk for injury. Anything where they might lift their buttocks in the air or any kind of bridging activities or swimming activities, those are activities you want to avoid before the uterus is back to its normal position. That is the determination of the physician. Your OB is the best recommendation of when you are ready to go back to your normal routine.