Pregnancy & Postpartum

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The Role of PTs and PTAs in Pregnancy & Postpartum Health | 2026 APTA Pelvic Health Workforce Data Report Supplement: The hormonal, physiological, and biomechanical changes occurring throughout pregnancy and into postpartum may result in musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain. More common conditions include pregnancy-related low back pain, posterior pelvic girdle pain and sacroiliac joint pain, anterior pelvic girdle pain and pubic joint pain, coccydynia, round ligament pain, abdominal wall strain, diastasis rectus abdominis, costal/rib pain and dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, neuropathies, and foot, ankle and lower leg dysfunction and pain (Stephenson & Cathcart, 2025a). Pregnancy-related low back (PLBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) are cited commonly in research and are reported in between 70% and 86% of pregnant women in the United States. Read the full evidence highlight on pregnancy & postpartum. 

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    What is a SIG?

    As an active APTA Pelvic Health member, you are eligible to join different special interest groups. A special interest group (SIG) is a sub-community within APTA Pelvic Health membership. Current members can join these SIGs for free to pursue a shared interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge or learning where members can connect, collaborate and help develop solutions within their particular topic area or produce new educational resources and networking opportunities.

    About the Pregnancy & Postpartum SIG

    The PPSIG provides a forum to connect PTs, PTAs, and SPTs from a variety of clinical disciplines that promotes networking and cross-leveling of information about musculoskeletal evaluation, treatment, and wellness during and after pregnancy. Year-round, the PPSIG hosts virtual events such as workshops, webinar panels or social meet and greets to connect you to fellow professionals and industry experts interested in or who specialize in pregnancy/postpartum topics.

    Become an Academy Member

    To be eligible for this membership, you must be a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and a State Chapter. 

    • Membership to the Pregnancy & Postpartum SIG Member Engage™ sub-group
    • Eligibility for PT and PTA scholarships
    • Eligibility for member-exclusive course and conference discounts
    • Library of past free webinar recordings
    • Access to PPSIG events (i.e. Meet & Greets, Webinars)
    • Access to the digital Journal of Women's & Pelvic Health Physical Therapy (JWPHPT)
    • Featured spotlight listing in the Membership Spotlights blog

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    Pregnancy & Postpartum SIG

    • Gabriela A. Van Sickle

      Gabriela A. Van Sickle, PT, DPT

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      PPSIG Director (2/6/2025-2/28/2027)

    • Meghan Jo Rohde, PT, DPT, PhD

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      PPSIG Director (2/6/2025-2/28/2027)

    • Elizabeth Rose Northrop

      Elizabeth Rose Northrop, PT, DPT

      Program Coordinator, University of Central Florida - Orlando Health Women's Health Physical Therapy Residency Program

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      PPSIG Director

    • Kelly Ann Tusha

      Kelly Ann Tusha, PT, DPT

      Pelvic Health Physical Therapist

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