29/09/2026
A third-degree tear is classified as an Obstetric A**l Sphincter Injury (OASI) because the tear extends into the muscles of the a**l sphincter.
This is why specialised care matters.
One of the most important people to have on your recovery team is a pelvic health physiotherapist, ideally someone experienced in OASI and postnatal rehabilitation.
They can assess how you’re recovering, look at your individual symptoms and function, and guide your rehabilitation based on your body rather than a generic timeline.
Because this isn’t something you should have to guess your way through alone.
When it comes to returning to exercise, we build gradually.
We rebuild the foundations first.
We listen to what your body is telling us.
We monitor for symptoms.
And we progress when your body is ready not simply because a certain number of weeks has passed.
If you’re experiencing symptoms such as difficulty controlling wind or bowel movements, urgency, pain or other changes that concern you, please speak with your healthcare team. These symptoms can be difficult to talk about, but you deserve to be heard and properly supported.
And this is also where my role as your trainer is really clear.
I don’t diagnose or treat your OASI - and I would never try to.
What I can do is make sure your exercise supports your recovery, work alongside your pelvic health physiotherapist or healthcare team, modify your training when needed, and meet you where your body is right now.
You don’t have to just put up with symptoms or hope for the best.
There is support available, and you deserve to have the right people around you as you find your way back to movement. 🩵
Is this a conversation you wish someone had opened with you sooner?
Save this post or share it with a mum who might need to hear it.
