Physiotherapy After a C-Section

A C-section is a surgical birth that involves an incision in the abdominal wall and the uterus. Recovery varies from person to person. In the first days, getting out of bed safely and taking short walks, as advised by your healthcare team, make it easier to move. As healing progresses, exercises are planned gradually, taking into account the sensitivity around the incision, your everyday movements and your needs. The physiotherapy approach addresses how your breathing, trunk control, abdominal wall and pelvic floor muscles work together. Work or exercises around the incision are considered with tissue healing and your healthcare team's recommendations in mind.

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Physiotherapy After a C-Section: Recovery and Safe Movement

Moving in the Early Days After a C-Section

In the early stage of recovery, everyday movements such as getting out of bed and short walks can be organized according to your healthcare team's advice. The physiotherapist works with you on ways to reduce discomfort around the incision while moving and on how to use your breath. Noticing which movements increase pain also helps you plan your daily activities more comfortably.

C-Section Scar Sensitivity and the Abdominal Wall

You may have tenderness, tightness or sensitivity to touch around the incision. Once the incision has fully healed, the physiotherapy assessment looks at the mobility of the scar and the sensitivity of the surrounding tissue. The scar should not be massaged before the wound has closed or if there is discharge or any sign of infection.

Gradual Return to Exercise and the Pelvic Floor

There is no single date for returning to exercise that fits everyone; your healing, pain and postpartum symptoms are taken into account. NICE recommends that after a C-section, you return to activities including exercise when you feel fully recovered and have no physical restrictions or pain. The physiotherapy plan can assess your abdominal wall, pelvic floor, breathing and everyday movement capacity together.

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Common and Treatable

In a study of 64 women in Turkey, the group that followed a planned movement program starting 6 hours after a C-section and lasting 48 hours had earlier return of bowel function, as well as less pain and bloating.

"When I get out of bed, my incision feels like it is pulling."

"The area around my C-section scar is still numb and tender to the touch."

"The area around my scar feels tight; is it okay to massage it?"

Yeşildağ B, Aldemir Atmaca K, Temur İ. The effect of a targeted mobilization program applied after cesarean surgery on care outcomes: a randomized controlled study. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira. 2026;72(2).

Physiotherapy After a C-Section FAQ

When can you start physiotherapy after a C-section?

Early movement in the hospital or after discharge is guided by your healthcare team's recommendations and your general condition. There is no single required start date for a more comprehensive physiotherapy assessment; incision healing, pain and your needs are taken into account. Check with your doctor before starting exercise or scar work.

When can you massage a C-section scar?

Massage can be considered once the incision has fully closed and there is no scab, discharge or sign of infection. If the wound is still healing or there is redness, warmth or discharge around the incision, do not massage it; talk to your healthcare provider.

Can I start exercising six weeks after a C-section?

Six weeks does not automatically mean you are cleared to exercise. NICE recommends returning to activities such as driving, carrying heavy items and regular exercise once you feel fully recovered from the C-section and have no pain or physical restrictions. If you are unsure about your recovery, ask your doctor or physiotherapist for a personal assessment.

Can physiotherapy help with numbness or tightness around a C-section incision?

Changes in sensation and tightness around the incision are addressed in the assessment. Once wound healing is complete, the physiotherapist looks at tenderness, sensation to touch and scar mobility to decide on the right approach. If your symptoms are getting worse or the wound looks different, see your doctor first.

Do I need to do ab exercises after a C-section?

Abdominal exercises should be chosen with your incision healing and your symptoms in mind. Lighter work involving breathing and trunk control may be suitable at first, and the difficulty is increased gradually over time. Don't continue movements that cause pain or noticeable discomfort around the incision.