Pregnancy & Postpartum Special Interest Group
Whether you're just beginning your journey in pregnancy and postpartum care or have years of experience, this is a supportive community where you can connect, learn, collaborate, and grow.
Find your community. Advance your expertise. Help shape the future of pregnancy & postpartum care.
The Pregnancy & Postpartum Special Interest Group (PPSIG) is a community of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals throughout pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the perinatal journey.
Members connect through clinical discussions, evidence-based education, networking, mentorship, and collaborative initiatives that strengthen practice and advance the profession.
Whether you are new to treating this patient population or have years of experience, you'll find opportunities to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, deepen your expertise, and help advance pregnancy and postpartum physical therapy.
Become an Academy Member
Take the PPSIG Survey
Help shape PPSIG programming, education, and advocacy efforts by sharing your input in our survey. Thank you for helping us shape the future of PPSIG and better support our community.
Open to: Members of the Academy of Pelvic Health who are PPSIG members or who specialize in pregnancy and postpartum care are invited to complete this short survey.
Purpose: To better understand member needs, priorities, and engagement preferences to guide PPSIG programming, education, and advocacy efforts.
Estimated Time: Approximately 5–10 minutes
Participation: Participation is voluntary, and we encourage all PPSIG members to share their perspectives. Your responses will remain confidential.
Deadline: July 26, 2026
Take 30 Seconds to Support New Moms
Help expand access to pelvic health physical therapy by mobilizing the voices of those most impacted: our patients and their families. We are asking every member to establish a Mother Support Station in their practice or clinic to gather powerful letters of support for H.R. 4074 and S. 4480. Together, we can improve postpartum care, reduce costly interventions, and make better outcomes the norm. Sign the letter of Support, spread Awareness, or launch your mother support station.
Featured Events
Explore upcoming Academy events designed to help members connect, learn, and grow.
PPSIG Virtual Member Meet & Greet
Learn more about PPSIG initiatives, member resources, and upcoming events while engaging in conversations about current trends, challenges, and opportunities in pregnancy and postpartum care. RSVP today.
Learn MorePPSIG In-Person Meet & Greet
Connect with our PPSIG directors and network with fellow PTs, PTAs, and SPTs interested in pregnancy and postpartum physical therapy! Learn about the PPSIG's latest projects, and share your ideas for upcoming webinars and resources focused on obstetric health. RSVP today.
RegisterCelebrate & Elevate
Whether you’re looking to catch up, spark new collaborations, or simply celebrate with peers, Celebrate & Elevate is your chance to connect with the heart of our profession—all in one place. This is an annual in-person social event hosted by the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy during APTA CSM week every February. RSVP today.
View DetailsExplore Benefits & Resources
Explore Academy resources designed to help members connect, learn, grow, lead, and advocate.
🤝 Connect
↑ Back to TopJoin PPSIG
Be sure to join the Pregnancy & Postpartum Special Interest Group (PPSIG)! Connect with Academy members who share your passion for obstetric physical therapy. Additionally, check out our other special interest groups to find your passion!
Special Interest GroupsJoin PPSIG Discussions in Member Engage
Connect with clinicians, students, mentors, and researchers across the country through Member Engage and Academy networking opportunities. Download and join the ‘Mobilize Community Management/Forj Connect’ app to join our exclusive PPSIG discussions on the Member Engage!
Member EngageMember Directory
Want to connect with pregnancy and postpartum physical therapy professionals in your area? Explore the Member Directory to find Academy members near you.
Member DirectoryConnect with Us!
Join us at CSM for networking events, educational sessions, presentations, and opportunities specifically designed for students and early professionals. Be sure to follow ECSIG and the Academy on social media to stay up to date on future events!
Explore Upcoming Events Official PPSIG IG Official Academy IG📚 Learn
↑ Back to TopWebinars and Blog Posts
Access free webinars, past recordings, and educational blog posts covering a variety of pregnancy and postpartum physical therapy topics. Recent webinars included:
- Inpatient OB PT: How to Overcome the Barriers Panel
- Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain Meets Contemporary Pain Science with Dr. Sinead Dufour, PT, PhD
- The Influence of Social Media on the Perception and Exercise Behavior of Women with DRA
Virtual Pop-Up Events
Interested in pregnancy and postpartum but not ready for a CAPP-OB course? Explore virtual pop-up events designed to introduce specialty topics. Recent pop-ups included:
- Virtual Pop-Up: Bridging the Gap: Global and Culturally-Informed Strategies to Elevate Postpartum Care
- Virtual Pop-Up: Nurture & Strengthen | Postpartum Care (Earn 3 CEUs On-demand)
JWPHPT
Stay up to date with the latest research through the Journal of Women's & Pelvic Health Physical Therapy (JWPHPT). Explore our collections on pregnancy and postpartum topics.
JWPHPTClinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs)
Access evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and other resources to support patient care.
Clinical Practice GuidelinesOutcome Measures
Explore evidence-based pelvic health outcome measures for clinical practice and research.
Outcome MeasuresPatient & Provider Resources
Access patient education materials that can be incorporated into your pregnancy and postpartum clinical practice. Recent PPSIG contributions include:
- Physical Therapy for Pregnant & Postpartum Patients: Whom and When to Refer PPT Resource
- How to Take Care of Your Cesarean Scar Handout
- Exercise Do's & Don'ts During Pregnancy for the Provider Handout
- Return to Running Postpartum Program Handout
- Safe Exercise During Pregnancy Handout
🌱 Grow
↑ Back to TopCourses & Certificate Programs
Looking to further develop your toolkit? Check out our courses on pregnancy and postpartum topics. Not only does the Academy offer a Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Obstetric Health (CAPP-OB) but it also offers a variety of on-demand and collaborative courses on topics such as infant feeding, DRA, and other relevant topics.
Certificate of Advanced Practice in Physical Therapy in Obstetric Health (CAPP-OB) - Advance your expertise in pregnancy, labor & birth, and postpartum physical therapy. The CAPP-OB is the Academy’s gold standard for advanced training in obstetric physical therapy. This certificate recognizes PTs and PTAs who have completed a rigorous Academy pathway that includes evidence-based coursework, testing, and a reviewed clinical reflection. The required coursework is evidence-based and is continually reviewed and updated by the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy's CAPP-OB Editorial Panel to reflect the latest research and clinical best practices. Since its inception in 2011, more than 360 providers have earned CAPP-OB certification.
Courses and DiscountsCAPP-OBScholarships
Several scholarship opportunities are available exclusively to PT, PTA, and SPT members.
ScholarshipsMentorship Opportunities
Looking for guidance from an experienced PT or PTA? Connect with experienced clinicians through the Mentor Directory. Search by clinical specialty and many other filters.
Mentor DirectoryClinical Affiliation and Shadowing Resources
Interested in building or completing a pelvic health clinical rotation or shadowing experience? Explore the Clinical Affiliation Toolkit and Student Affiliation Directory.
Student Affiliation Directory Clinical Affiliation ToolkitAdvance Your Career
Looking for your first pelvic health position or residency opportunity? Explore job openings, residency programs, and career resources through the Academy Career Center.
Academy Career Center Job Shoutouts Career Development BlogCSM Opportunities
Attend educational sessions, networking events, poster presentations, and Academy programming at CSM! Keep an eye out for updates as we get closer to CSM!
Explore CSMResearch Opportunities
Interested in contributing to the profession? Watch for opportunities to participate in research, surveys, abstract submissions, and poster presentations. Additionally, check out our pelvic-specific research grants and updates to the current literature!
Research ParticipationResearch⭐ Lead and Advocate
↑ Back to TopVolunteer Opportunities
Academy members can serve on committees, task forces, SIG leadership teams, and Academy projects. Explore opportunities related to pregnancy and postpartum physical therapy.
Appointed OpportunitiesAdvocacy
Help shape the future of pelvic health physical therapy within your local area through advocacy initiatives and collaboration with state representatives.
Improve Postpartum Outcomes | Support H.R. 4074
Help expand access to pelvic health physical therapy by mobilizing the voices of those most impacted: our patients and their families. We are asking every member to establish a Mother Support Station in their practice or clinic to gather powerful letters of support for H.R. 4074 and S. 4480. Together, we can improve postpartum care, reduce costly interventions, and make better outcomes the norm. Sign the letter of Support, spread Awareness, or launch your mother support station. Learn more
The Role of PTs and PTAs in Pregnancy & Postpartum Health
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. Learn more
State and Regional RepresentativesAdvocacy UpdatesElections and Leadership
Stay involved by participating in Academy elections, leadership positions, and special interest group initiatives. Run for PPSIG Director.
Run in ElectionsMeet Your PPSIG Directors
Our volunteer leaders are dedicated to helping members build meaningful connections, discover new opportunities, and thrive within the Academy community.
Gabriela Van Sickle
Elizabeth R. Northrop
Kelly Ann Tusha
