PHYSIOTHERAPY OF PREGNANCY AND PUERPERIUM

The bachelor thesis is focused on physiotherapy during the time of pregnancy and puerperium. Both pregnancy and birth have a significant influence on the expectant mother. During the nine months, woman undergoes a great amount of changes both from the physical and the mental side. This bachelor thesis deals foremost with changes that affect the physical side of the expectant mother. They include changes on genital organs, on cardiovascular, blood and respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin and last but not least on the locomotory system. With exercise in gravidity, we try to influence these changes and, therefore, avoid any occurrence of eventual difficulties. Exercising during gravidity has not only a great importance to prevention but also to the preparation of an expectant mother to the delivery and for acceleration of return of the mother into the shape before conception. The expectant mother should be careful when choosing a suitable sport and she should always consult her attending gynaecologist. Recommended sports and methodologies include gravid yoga, pilates, belly dance, Moses method, exercise on a big ball, Alexander's technique, hydrokinesiotherapy and gynaecological gymnastics. The theoretical part includes a description of anatomy of genital organs and pelvis, creation of an individual, description of physical changes during pregnancy and puerperium and also characteristics and selection of individual suitable sport activities and methodologies. The goal of this bachelor thesis was to find such suitable physiotherapeutic procedures and methods, apply them to particular expectant mothers and verify their effects. For the practical part of research, the method of qualitative research and personal cases studies were used. Three pregnant women participated in the research. Therapy took place once per week for the period of several months. While having free conversation with the clients during the said period, I obtained the information I have incorporated into the individual casuistries. The therapy was completed by the final examination, which proved a positive effect of the exercise not only on the health conditions of expectant mothers, but also on their mental well-being, which was especially important for mothers