Pregnancy can be an amazing and rewarding journey. That does not stop it from frequently coming with challenges, though. Hip pain, in addition to other kinds of discomfort, is a common occurrence during pregnancy. Hip pain during pregnancy can have many causes. Weight changes and issues in the pelvic floor are often contributing factors. When someone is pregnant, their body will prepare for labor and delivery by releasing special hormones. One hormone called relaxin can cause instability in the hips and pelvis. Instability in the lower body tends to cause pain and limit mobility. 

If you are experiencing hip pain during pregnancy, it is important to find relief. Alleviating your hip pain can help you stay focused as you navigate each trimester. Physical therapists often play a pivotal role in helping people manage hip pain and other symptoms during pregnancy. Gaining a better understanding of different physical therapy strategies can be illuminating. In this blog post, you can learn more about how physical therapy can help you.

How to address hip pain during pregnancy with 6 PT strategies

• Postural assessment — Pelvic alignment issues can cause nagging hip pain during pregnancy. If problems with your posture and alignment are the root of your pain, physical therapy can help address your discomfort at the source. Posture-focused treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment. Your physical therapist will evaluate the way your biomechanics affect your pelvis and hips. Pregnancy can cause changes in the way you move through the world. When these changes occur, they can lead to postural issues. By correcting your posture, you can help reduce your pain and prevent further painful symptoms. 
• Stretching exercises — Want a convenient and effective treatment option? Stretching can be a great choice. A licensed physical therapist can work with you to develop a stretching plan designed to address your personal concerns. Gentle stretches are typically used to target the hip flexors and glute muscles among others. These tailored exercises can help relieve tension in the hips. They are also meant to improve flexibility. If you are concerned about limited mobility, stretching can be highly beneficial. By helping improve your range of motion and comfort, stretching is a strong, well-rounded treatment method. 
• Relaxation techniques — Being pregnant can be stressful. Physical therapy relaxation techniques are designed to help ease your stress, emotional and physical. Being relaxed tends to make stretching and tissue manipulation easier. As you progress on your physical therapy journey, applying relaxation techniques can help make other forms of treatment smoother and more productive. 
• Pelvic floor exercises — Pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to many complicated symptoms. These include pelvic pain and hip issues. The pelvic floor is a complex system of muscles and other tissue that work together. The pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role in supporting your hips. When you are pregnant, the pelvic floor may be at greater risk for dysfunction. Pelvic floor exercises can help prevent issues that may lead to hip pain. Depending on your condition, your physical therapist may recommend and guide you through personalized pelvic floor exercises. 
• Deep breathing — Breathing is essential for our moment-to-moment survival. This basic bodily function is vital for distributing oxygen as well as relaxing certain muscles. When you take a deep breath, your diaphragm expands and contracts. The movement of your diaphragm can lead to similar stretches in your pelvic floor muscles, relaxing them. By relaxing your muscles with controlled breathing techniques, you can reduce hip pain during your pregnancy. Your physical therapist can guide you through the most effective diaphragmatic breathing techniques. 
• Manual therapy — Looking for hands-on physical therapy care? Manual therapy may be the right treatment option for you. By mobilizing and manipulating affected tissue, your physical therapist can use manual therapy techniques to promote rapid pain relief. Manual therapy techniques tend to have multifaceted benefits. They often encourage healing and build flexibility while alleviating pain. If you are experiencing muscle tightness in your hips during your pregnancy, manual therapy can be especially helpful. Techniques like soft tissue mobilization are specifically geared toward treating tense muscles and providing pain relief.

Find relief from your hip pain during pregnancy at Continuum Wellness

Hip pain during pregnancy is a challenging yet common issue. At Continuum Wellness, we are here to help you stay comfortable and healthy each step of the way. Our team can offer knowledge, treatment and resources to help you work toward your wellness goals. With our help, you can work to relieve your hip pain and maintain great pelvic health during your pregnancy.

Call us or request an appointment today and let’s work together to ease any hip pain you’re feeling during your pregnancy.