Breast Feeding & Mastitis
Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast with symptoms that include redness, breast pain, swelling and generalised ‘flu-like’ symptoms. While all mastitis is characterized by inflammation, not all inflammation is due to infection. Antibiotics are often empirically prescribed for mastitis even when there is no clear evidence of infection. In addition to local and global concerns surrounding the over-use of antibiotics, antibiotics will transfer through the mum’s breast milk to babies, which can result in the baby experiencing an upset stomach. Therapeutic ultrasound is a quick and effective nonpharmacological treatment for the inflammatory symptoms of mastitis. If an infection is present, studies have shown that ultrasound can increase cell wall permeability of the biofilms caused by infections, making the antibiotic therapy more effective.
How Physiotherapy can help:
Seeing a physiotherapist who is skilled in this field, who may offer therapeutic ultrasound, may give these women symptomatic relief and then they can go on to understand why they are vulnerable to this condition in the first place. By changing the permeability in the actual tissue cells, so the cells can then reduce the volume of inflammation around them, it helps by improving the local circulation through lymphatics and the blood supply which also reduces the swelling.
Contact
At Focus Physio our Chartered Physiotherapists Aisling O’Brien MISCP & Lorna Cummins MISCP are trained in the application of Therapeutic Ultrasound. For any further information contact us on 021 4876426 or E:mail us focusphysiocork@gmail.com