PHYSICAL THERAPY IN WILMINGTON, DE

Pregnancy and delivery place extraordinary demands on your body — particularly the core, pelvic floor, and connective tissues. While some recovery happens naturally, many postpartum women are left with muscle weakness, diastasis recti (abdominal separation), pelvic floor dysfunction, or persistent pain that does not resolve on its own.

Common postpartum issues that benefit from physical therapy include:

• Urinary leaking when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising
• Abdominal separation (diastasis recti) that has not closed on its own
• Low back or pelvic pain that persists weeks or months after delivery
• Pelvic heaviness or pressure, especially with prolonged standing
• Pain or discomfort at a C-section scar site
• Difficulty returning to exercise without pain or leaking
• Core weakness that makes daily tasks like lifting your baby feel difficult

In many other countries, postpartum physical therapy is standard of care for every new mother. Here in the US, it is underutilized — but it should not be. A proper postpartum rehabilitation program addresses these issues early, prevents chronic problems, and helps you return to exercise and daily life safely and confidently.

Our postpartum rehabilitation program is tailored to your specific needs, delivery experience, and recovery goals. Treatment at The Back Clinic addresses the full spectrum of postpartum physical changes:

• Pelvic floor rehabilitation — Restoring strength, coordination, and continence to the pelvic floor muscles affected by pregnancy and delivery, whether vaginal or cesarean
• Diastasis recti management — Assessment and progressive rehabilitation of abdominal separation using evidence-based techniques that promote safe tissue healing
• Core reactivation — Safe, progressive retraining of the deep core muscles (transverse abdominis, multifidus, diaphragm) before advancing to more demanding exercises
• Return to exercise planning — Structured progression from postpartum baseline back to running, lifting, and fitness activities with clear milestones
• Pain management — Addressing persistent low back, pelvic, or SI joint pain that is common postpartum through manual therapy and corrective exercise
• C-section scar management — Scar mobilization techniques to prevent adhesions, restore tissue mobility, and reduce sensitivity at the incision site
• Incontinence treatment — Resolving urinary leaking that many women assume is a permanent consequence of childbirth — it does not have to be

Every session at The Back Clinic is one-on-one with your physical therapist — never handed off to aides or shared with other patients. This private, individualized approach allows your therapist to adapt your program as your body heals and your capabilities progress week to week.

We recommend a postpartum assessment at approximately six weeks after delivery, or whenever your physician clears you for activity. However, treatment can begin at any point postpartum — whether you are six weeks or six years out from delivery, it is never too late to address these issues.

Your evaluation includes diastasis recti assessment, pelvic floor function screening, core strength testing, and evaluation of any pain or functional limitations. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Your therapist will explain each step of the assessment before proceeding.

Most patients see significant improvement within six to eight weeks of consistent treatment and home exercise. The goal is not just symptom resolution — it is giving you a strong, functional foundation for the demands of motherhood and whatever activities you want to return to.

Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover postpartum physical therapy. You do not need a referral to start treatment in Delaware. Call (302) 529-1900 or schedule online to book your evaluation.