Dramatic changes occur in your musculoskeletal system during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. during the nine months of pregnancy and postpartum recovery, a physical therapist can assist you with both knowledge and physical care.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy shouldn’t mean pain. Physical therapy can help mom’s-to-be manage their pain and discomfort. Common complaints during pregnancy that we can help you with include: low back pain, joint pain, postural syndrome and leg swelling. We can also fit patients with external supports and braces if necessary.
Postpartum
Physical therapy treatments for Postpartum conditions include: muscle weakness after bed rest, post-operative shoulder pain, sacroiliac joint pain, and individualized exercise prescription for core strengthening.
Women are faced with many musculoskeletal dysfunctions during the different phases of their life: growth and development, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and menopause. We are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women during all these phases.
The Michigan Pelvic Institute can help pregnant women with back pain, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, urine leakage with cough or sneeze. carpal tunnel syndrome, and sensory changes and leg pain.
Ashley Niemi, PT, DPT graduated from the University of Evansville, Indiana in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She continued on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2014 from the University of Evansville. After gaining experience as a PT for a year and a half, Ashley began to specialize in pregnancy and postpartum care and urinary incontinence in patients.
Over the last two and a half years, Ashley has taken several additional continuing education classes in order to gain further knowledge to treat this specialized population including courses focusing on bowel issues, pelvic pain, male pelvic conditions, breast cancer, urogenital cancers, endometriosis and more. In addition to her courses related to her specialty, Ashley has taken several courses focusing in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine including Functional Movement Screen, Kinesio-Taping and is a Preferred Graston Technique Provider.
Ashley is currently working towards her Pelvic Health Physical therapist certification and helping to build the Michigan Public Health Institute at Plymouth Physical Therapy Specialists. Moving forward, Ashley continues to schedule classes to acquire more knowledge regarding completed pregnancy and postpartum cases, pediatrics and female athletes. Her main coal besides providing excellent patient and outcomes is in educating her patients and instilling confidence that pelvic health is as important aspect in many people’s lives and that most conditions are treatable and are able to be easily maintained.
In Ashley’s spare time, she enjoys snuggling with her dog, watching Sports, traveling with her husband, doing yoga and CrossFit.
Physical Therapy can help with
Pregnancy
- Back Pain
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Urine leakage with cough or sneeze
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sensory changes and leg pain
Postpartum
- Weak abdominal muscles and separation
- Weak pelvic floor muscles and poor control
- Incision discomfort and adherent scarring
- Postural changes
- difficulty in taking care of children and performing work and home tasks
- Pain with intercourse
Urinary Incontinence
- Strengthening weak muscles