New Mum MOT

Physiofit Leeds offer a New Mum MOT; a post natal health check for new mums to help optimise your body's recovery following the birth of your baby. Most women have weakness in the muscles of the tummy and the pelvic floor after giving birth and a caesarean delivery can further weaken the tummy muscles. The lower back and pelvis are also vulnerable after childbirth and when looking after a young baby. It is recommended that all women have a check-up around 6 weeks after delivery, but the health check can still be useful later on.

During the hour long session we will ask about your concerns, any problems and about your aims and objectives.

• Do you have any aches and pains, or symptoms of pelvic floor weakness?
• Do you want to know when you should get back to exercise and what form exercise is safest to start with?
• Do you want to get back to you pre-pregnancy level of sport as quickly but safely as possible?
• Are you thinking of future pregnancies and want to get your body prepared?
• Do you feel your family is now complete and you want to get your body back in shape?

The health check includes:

• Assessment of your posture and of your lower back and pelvis
• Assessment of your abdominal muscles for "gapping" and strength
• Assessment of the function of your pelvic floor muscles through a subjective examination and pelvic floor questionnaire. Please note the New Mum MOT does not include a physical examination of your pelvic floor, but if you wish for this to be assessed or the physiotherapist recommends it during your appointment, you can be referred to our specialist pelvic floor Physiotherapist. Please let us know if this is your priority on booking the New Mum MOT.

We will then give you personalised and specific advice based on any areas identified during the session. You will leave with the relevant advice, exercises and a plan for getting your body back to its optimum.

We may recommend that you have a further assessment with our specialist pelvic floor physiotherapists, or refer you to our post natal exercise specialists, or post natal Pilates classes if you would like continued guidance.

Following on from the 'New Mum MOT', we also offer a 'New Mum Return to Sport MOT' for new Mums wanting to return to sports involving impact such as running, cross fit, aerobics etc.

Return to Sport MOT

In addition to our New Mum MOT, we offer an assessment for new mums wanting to return to sports involving impact such as running, cross-fit, aerobics, circuit training etc.

The guidelines for new Mums suggest that low impact exercise should be carried out in the first three months of the postnatal period prior to a return to higher impact activities. Higher impact activities that cause high gravitational load on the pelvic floor muscles should not be commenced until 3-6 months postnatal at the earliest.

An individualised assessment and guided rehabilitation can reduce the risk of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence and ensure the muscles supporting the lower back and pelvis are strong enough to withstand the loads required for sporting activities.

Some examples of sports involving impact:

• HIIT (high intensity interval training)
• Circuit training
• Running
• Netball
• Basketball
• Football
• Cross fit
• Tennis
• Hockey

The return to sport assessment is completed as a follow up appointment and takes up to half an hour. It includes a discussion around your fitness goals and current levels of fitness, questions about sleep and the types of activity you plan to get back to. The assessment also includes a practical element assessing your core and pelvic floor’s ability to manage certain loaded activities as well as looking at the strength of your lower limbs.

The assessment is designed to be completed as a follow up after the New Mum MOT. The New Mum Return to Sport MOT cannot be completed without completing the New Mum MOT first. The New Mum MOT can be completed from 6 weeks post natal and your physiotherapist will recommend a suitable timeframe to complete the return to sport assessment. This needs to be 3 months post natal at the earliest.

For further guidelines about postnatal returning to running, please see the following link.