Advancing Physical Therapy for the Perinatal Population

Physical therapy for individuals during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period is an increasingly vital area of practice within pelvic health physical therapy. As public awareness continues to grow regarding the role of physical therapy in supporting maternal health, clinicians are called upon to address complex musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and pelvic health conditions that can arise throughout the perinatal period. Expanding education and clinical training in this area is essential to improving patient outcomes and strengthening the profession’s ability to meet the evolving health needs of families and communities.

Over the past year, the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy’s Certificate of Advanced Practice in Obstetric Physical Therapy (CAPP-OB) Committee undertook a major initiative to strengthen education in this specialty area. The volunteer team led a comprehensive restructuring of the CAPP-OB program, one of the Academy’s primary educational pathways designed to prepare clinicians to provide specialized care to individuals during pregnancy, the intrapartum period, and the postpartum period.

Working within an ambitious timeline while balancing demanding clinical and personal responsibilities, committee members Alexis Gillett, PT, DPT, EdD; Caitlin Smigelski, PT, DPT; Gina Kelly-Elliott, PT, DPT, PWCS; Ginger Leibfritz, PT, DPT, Cert. DN; Janelle Hayes, PT, DPT, OCS; Jennifer Niemeyer, PT, DPT, PWCS; Jessica LeJeune, PT, DPT; and Sandra Gallagher, PT, DPT, PWCS dedicated countless volunteer hours to strengthening the quality, accessibility, and long-term sustainability of obstetric physical therapy education.

Their work included launching updated course titles, restructuring continuing education webinars, revising dozens of educational modules, and modernizing course formats to better serve clinicians both nationally and internationally. These efforts help ensure that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are trained and equipped with the knowledge and clinical skills needed to support individuals through pregnancy and postpartum recovery—an area of care that has historically been underrecognized but is increasingly recognized as critical to lifelong health and function.

Through their dedication and leadership, the CAPP-OB Committee has strengthened the educational foundation that will shape the future of obstetric physical therapy and further elevate the profession’s role in perinatal care. In recognition of their extraordinary volunteer service and impact on the profession, the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy named the CAPP-OB Committee its Volunteer of the Year. To date, there are 357 CAPP-OB certified physical therapists.

Importantly, initiatives such as the restructuring of the CAPP-OB program also support broader efforts to expand patient access to obstetric pelvic health physical therapy services nationwide. By strengthening clinician education and increasing the number of physical therapists equipped to provide evidence-based care during the peripartum period, these efforts help address a critical workforce need. This work aligns with the goals of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and the American Physical Therapy Association in supporting federal legislation such as H.R. 4074, which aims to improve access to rehabilitation services for the perinatal population. Expanding the number of trained clinicians is a key step toward ensuring that individuals across the United States can access specialized care during pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery.

This initiative highlights the powerful role that volunteer leadership plays in advancing the profession. The dedication of volunteer clinicians who contribute their time, expertise, and vision makes it possible to continue developing programs, expanding educational opportunities, and driving innovation that ultimately benefit patients, practitioners, and the health care system. Continued engagement from volunteers across the profession is crucial to sustaining similar initiatives and further strengthening access to specialized pelvic and obstetric physical therapy services in the years ahead.

Take Action & Explore Resources:

Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Obstetric Health (CAPP-OB) - – Learn more about advancing your skills in obstetric pelvic health.

Take 30 Seconds to Support New Moms – Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2025 (H.R. 4074) - Advocate for policies that improve postpartum care.