[Physio Discussed] A practical guide to exercise & pelvic health during pregnancy and postpartum with Dr Silvia Giagio and Gráinne Donnelly

Introducing our new, longer form podcast, Physio Discussed, where 2 expert guests and our host explore everything you need to know about your favourite topics!

In this episode, we discuss exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. We explore: 

• Pelvic floor screening and assessments
• Return to sport after pregnancy
• Pelvic floor rehabilitation
• Creating training programs for pelvic floor dysfunction
• Compression garments in pelvic health

Silvia Giagio is a PhD physiotherapist and researcher at the University of Bologna. Her research primarily focuses on pelvic floor health within the field of sports medicine. She has applied her personal and clinical experiences in sports, along with her passion for pelvic floor rehabilitation, to this research area. Currently, she collaborates with World Athletics as research consultant, promoting worldwide initiatives for élite athletes' pelvic health.

Gráinne Donnelly is an Advanced Physiotherapist in pelvic health, doctoral research student at Cardiff Metropolitan University and the current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy. Her research focuses include i) postpartum return to sport and pelvic floor dysfunction and ii) diastasis rectus abdominis.

Link to the screening tool discussed in this episode (open access) - https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/14/899 

If you like the podcast, it would mean the world if you're happy to leave us a rating or a review. It really helps!

Our host is @James_Armstrong_Physio

Chapters

• 2:37 Latest research on pelvic floor health in athletes
• 7:09 Prevelance of pelvic floor dysfunction in athletes
• 10:16 Screening for pelvic floor dysfunction
• 15:23 Pelvic health management in sports
• 18:05 Return to sport post pregnancy
• 23:18 Importance of "checking in" with athletes postpartum
• 25:03 Postpartum management
• 28:54 Pelvic health misconceptions
• 35:00 Managing individuals with persistent symptoms
• 37:21 Adjuncts/devices in treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction
• 40:36 Funding for pelvic health management
• 42:35 Increasing awareness for pelvic health management
• 46:55 Navigating difficult conversations with patients
• 51:17 Keeping up to date with latest research in pelvic health