Pregnancy and Back Pain

Back pain is very common in today’s society and is particularly common during pregnancy. Back pain effects women of childbearing age whether pregnant or not. Approximately 70% of women will report low back pain at some point in their lives. During a pregnancy, the incidence of back pain is reported by 50–80% of women. One-third of pregnant women claim that low back pain is a significant problem. There are multiple factors contributing to these symptoms during pregnancy including pelvic changes as well as alterations to loading.

Pain is commonly experienced in the lower back, in the posterior pelvic region, and the lower lumbar region or buttocks. Therapy for pregnancy-related back pain is recommended to minimize discomfort.

This kind of pain can be due to a combination of mechanical issues, as well as hormonal, circulatory, and psychosocial factors. Treatment options are often poor, as the cause of back pain is not always fully understood.

Discomfort in this region may also be contributed to changes in the posterior pelvic region, particularly the sacroiliac joints which undergo changes during pregnancy and/or stretch direct stretch of intrapelvic structures. This can manifest itself in the lumbar region and/or radiate to the buttocks and posterior thighs.

Symptoms of Back Pain during Pregnancy

50% to 70% of women experience back pain during the second half of pregnancy. Some of the specific symptoms they experience are:

  • Stiffness or discomfort after standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time
  • Pain that radiates to the legs
  • Pain over the pubic bone
  • Pain in the thighs or buttocks
  • Pain in the center of the back
  • Pain above or at the sides of the waistline

Causes of Pregnancy-Related Back Pain

Various factors can cause back pain during pregnancy, such as:

  • Weight gain – Your growing infant creates additional weight that your spine must support. This may cause lower back pain over time. The extra weight can also put pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the pelvis and back.
  • Center of gravity – Pregnancy shifts your center of gravity and causes your posture to gradually bend forward. This may result in back strain.
  • Hormonal changes – During pregnancy, the body produces “relaxin,” a hormone that loosens joints and relaxes ligaments in the pelvic area in preparation for childbirth. Relaxin also loosens ligaments that support the spine, resulting in discomfort and instability over time.

Traditional Approach

Exercise – Regular exercise strengthens muscles, boosts flexibility, and reduces spinal strain. Safe exercises for most pregnant women include yoga, walking, swimming, and stationary cycling. Kegel Exercises.

Heat and cold – Doctors often recommend applying hot and cold compresses on the painful area for up to 20 minutes at various times of the day.

Acupuncture – Thin needles are inserted into the skin at specific locations to ease pain.

Equipment – Braces

PróMotion Movement Based Approach

In some cases, back pain during pregnancy is a sign of something more serious. Although the traditional solutions discussed above may help mitigate common symptoms, they do not address the underlying cause of the pain. To effectively address the unique challenges of female biomechanics, you must understand female anatomy and how the pelvic core neuromuscular system impacts women’s health and comfort.

At PróMotion, we offer a different approach to treatment. We address the primary pain source and strive to develop lasting relief so you can resume your regular activities as soon as possible.

Full-body Movement Assessment

The most important element of healing is identifying the cause. The cause is a movement disorder somewhere else in the body that is creating more stress in the injured area than the tissue can handle. A full body movement assessment is the most important aspect in finding the true cause. This involves assessing how mobile and stable the areas above and below the injured tissues are. Once the dysfunctional areas are identified, the physical therapist can then prescribe home treatments to fix the problem areas.

Hands on Therapy with Movement

In order to improve motion in the dysfunctional areas that are causing the increased stress on the painful injured tissues the most effect way to make a change in the body is to have a physical therapist use their hands to facilitate the proper motion while you are moving at the same time. This helps improve the path the body takes in order to reduce stress and tension on the injured area.

Prescriptive Home Exercise Program

At PróMotion we work to educate patients on how the body moves to safely ease pain and restore function.

With our smartphone app called Movement RX, we empower patients with the knowledge and tools needed to attain long-term physical freedom. All of the instructions provided by your physician can also be video-recorded and sent directly to your email or mobile device.

Applied Functional Science

This principles-based method is designed to improve how the mind, body, and spirit work together to facilitate complete healing. Our PróMotion Physical Therapy providers are Fellows of Applied Functional Science through the Gray Institute.

 

At PróMotion Physical Therapy we will also provide you with access the MyCoreFloor website for information, classes and discussion.