Why do randomized controlled trials often miss the mark for rehabilitation research? How can occupational therapy and physical therapy show system level value in maternal health, postpartum care, and hospital workflows? In this conversation Dr. Rebeca Segraves sits down with two past presidents of the American Occupational Therapy Association — Dr. Amy Lamb and Dr. Alyson Stover — to explore practical strategies for measuring real world impact using implementation science, quality improvement, and smart clinical workflows.In this episode we cover:• Why RCTs are not always the best fit for rehab research• What implementation science and quality improvement look like in clinical practice• Concrete examples of workflows and data points hospitals care about (length of stay, readmissions, cost, patient satisfaction)• How to design feasible pilot projects that produce actionable results for administrators• A glimpse at international models that embed OT into primary careConnect with our Guests:• Dr Amy Lamb, Past President, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Consultant, Implementation Science Research — amy@thrivynconsulting.com • Dr Alyson Stover, Immediate Past President, AOTA, Consultant, Health Policy and Law — alyson@thrivynconsulting.comGrow an OB Rehab Program in your hospital: Enhanced Recovery After Delivery® (ERAD): https://enhancedrecoveryafterdelivery.com/program/

What if everything you’ve been told about diastasis recti isn’t the full story? In this episode, Antony Lo @PhysioDetective an internationally recognized physiotherapist from Australia, shares why:

• slowing things down with deep core activation and breathing exercises can backfire
• why people deserve support in their own goals for strength, function, and appearance, and
• why most are far more capable than they’ve been told.

This conversation will challenge what you think you know about abdominal muscle separation and recovery after birth.

Occupational therapists Lindsey Vestal, OTR/L and Lara Desrosiers, MSc. OT Reg. (Ont.) share how trauma can impact the experiences that mothers have after birth and the work of rehab therapists providing early care across settings.

We discuss:

1. Their personal motivations behind creating the Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification program and the Trauma-Informed Maternal Care training

2. Their reactions to the New York Times report on intra-operative pain during cesarean birth and the estimated 100,000+ women in the U.S. affected each year

3. The evolving role of rehab therapists in maternal health, why hospitals are beginning to offer OT and PT services after birth, what it takes to gain recognition as part of the maternal care team in hospital, virtual, and clinic-based settings

4. Clinical pearls for trauma-informed practice:

• Why the presence or absence of trauma cannot be assumed from a medical record, and how to ask questions that build trust and uncover lived experience

• Trauma-informed care strategies uniquely relevant to the maternal population, including language that restores agency and collaborative goal setting

• Self-care recommendations for therapists facing burnout, secondary trauma, or personal challenges while advocating for the value of maternal rehab

This conversation is designed for rehab professionals who are working to make early maternal rehab the standard of care in hospital, virtual, and outpatient clinic settings. If you have felt the struggle of proving your value in systems that overlook maternal rehab, this interview will provide both validation and actionable tools to support your practice.

Trauma-Informed Pelvic Health Certification Training: https://www.functionalpelvis.com/trauma

Trauma-Informed Strategies in Maternal Health: Pelvic Health Network

OTs in Pelvic Health Summit: https://www.functionalpelvis.com/summit

Jenna and Rebeca Segraves discuss why they advocate through Enhanced Recovery After Delivery for occupational and physical therapy to be accessible to moms within the first 7 days of giving birth.

Learn more about Enhanced Recovery After Delivery

Dr. Addy Javes, PT, DPT is an acute care physical therapist and author of what is considered to be the first case report published in the U.S. on physical therapy in the hospital after birth.

She shares the story of her patient who was physically active before delivery and who received PT in the hospital after her unexpected c-section.

Dr. Javes describes how patients who recover with PT in the hospital after their major abdominal birth have the advantage of healing earlier than patients who are sent home to navigate their rehab on their own.

For updated information on hospitals in the U.S. that provide occupational and physical therapy earlier than the standard of care after birth, visit: https://pelvichealthnetwork.org/hospitals/.

To learn how to enhance recovery after delivery with occupational and physical therapy starting in the hospital and home, visit: https://enhancedrecoveryafterdelivery.com/.

Case Report

Physical Therapy May Improve Recovery After Cesarean Section During Hospital Admission: A Case Report. Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy, April 2025 - Volume 16 - Issue. https://journals.lww.com/jacpt/abstract/2025/04000/physical_therapy_may_improve_recovery_after.3.aspx

Why are new moms often denied proactive occupational and physical therapy after an open abdominal delivery known as a cesarean section? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Michelle Figueira, PT, DPT, a former director of rehab, shares her background as a key influencer behind launching inpatient postpartum rehab services across 12 hospitals. She reveals why hospitals, especially for-profit ones, frequently say "no" to rehab after birth, and what therapists can do to challenge that. Whether you're a clinician looking to advocate for better maternal care or someone navigating hospital politics, this interview offers rare insight from someone who's helped drive real change inside and outside the health system.

Physical therapist, Dr. Lashonda Jones shares her personal experience with c-section recovery and the lack of resources available for new mothers. She discusses the importance of creating a standardized rehab protocol for cesarean delivery, emphasizing the need for education and support for both mothers and healthcare providers. The conversation highlights essential recovery practices, the role of healthcare professionals, and the resources available for mothers to aid in their recovery process.

Access: The Cesarean Delivery Rehab Protocol⁠

Chapters

1. 00:00 The Aha Moment: Understanding C-Section Recovery
2. 03:07 The Need for Standardized Care
3. 05:58 Essential Recovery Practices for New Moms
4. 08:58 Creating a Protocol for C-Section Recovery
5. 12:06 The Role of Healthcare Professionals
6. 14:58 Introducing the Cesarean Delivery Rehab Protocol
7. 18:06 Resources for Moms and Healthcare Providers
8. 20:44 Empowering Moms Through Education
9. 24:00 The Importance of Teamwork in Recovery

Mothers and their birth providers face significant risk within the first few days of childbirth. We discuss what questions every mother should be asked while she is still in the hospital after birth to avoid unnecessary harm.