Introduction
Prior to clinical education, our priority is to direct you towards tools and resources to ensure your selected interventions and patient communications are safe. The purpose of this lesson is to introduce some of the more common considerations and conditions for pregnant patients you may work with clinically or in settings specific to prevention and wellness promotion. More practice of exercise, positioning, and exercise modifications, and post-pregnancy pathologies (pelvic floor dysfunctions) will be offered in PTA 205/205L. Remember, pregnancy is considered a state of wellness.
Objectives
- Describe the anatomical and physiological changes of pregnancy
- Describe diagnoses resulting in musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary impairments associated with changes during pregnancy
- Identity absolute contraindications to aerobic exercise during pregnancy
- Recognize common postural compensations during pregnancy
- Describe precautions with positioning which prevent compromised circulation during pregnancy
- Select an appropriate activity modification to prevent and/or reduce pelvic during pregnancy
- Select an aerobic exercise which has minimal risk of increasing joint laxity during pregnancy
