Call to include physiotherapists in routine antenatal care
Up to half of Australian women who have had more than one child would benefit, says chair of pelvic health group
The peak body for physiotherapists is calling for women’s health physios to be included in routine care of pregnant and postpartum women to offer appropriate exercises and reduce complications such as prolapse.
The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) says there needs to be funded places for women’s health physiotherapists in public antenatal clinics and on postnatal wards.
While women can access physiotherapists in private practice, the availability for women receiving public maternity care varies from state to state.
The APA call follows the release of new UK NICE guidelines in September that recommend adding physiotherapists to care teams for women expecting twins or triplets.
