Pregnancy & Low Back Pain

Chiropractic care for the pregnant woman can offer invaluable help when it comes to low back pain and discomfort. It’s hard enough for the pregnant woman to deal with the hormone changes associated with pregnancy, and there is no need to have to put up with low back pain or leg pain. Many women believe that low back pain is normal with pregnancy, and something that they simply have to cope with. Wrong!

Ironically, once the pain becomes too intense to deal with, is when the pregnant mother seeks help from the chiropractor. Expecting mothers are encouraged to see their chiropractor early during the stages of pregnancy. Experience in dealing with the pregnant patients is important, because they can offer many treatments and some great advice.

Besides getting pain relief, many women report that chiropractic care aids in the ease of delivery. Several research papers have been published on manipulative therapy for low back pain in pregnancy, and report great results (Diakow 1991, Epstein 1959, Parsons 1994) and specifically, manipulation of the sacroiliac joints (Berg 1988, Daikow 1991, Golightly 1982, Sandleer 1996, Sands 1959). Manipulation of the low back in pregnancy is a very low risk procedure (Daikow 1991, Hitchcock 1976, Philips 1995, Sandler 1996)

Hormones, specifically Relaxin, which peaks in the first trimester and at delivery is believed to soften the pelvic structures to allow for delivery is one of the causes indirectly for the low back pain. According to the research by Bookhout 1988, and Perkins 1998, the sooner the pregnant patient is treated, the better the opportunity for successful management. Other contributing causes being the altered bio-mechanics of the musculoskeletal system due to the developing fetus and its contribution to your altered center of gravity, in turn putting altered stress on the bio-structures.

The many options chiropractors have in treating the pregnant patient such as:

• Comfortable positioning for successful manipulation
• Safe manipulation techniques such as low force, instrument, muscle energy techniques, mobilization
• Soft tissue therapy including a variety of techniques usually applied to the varius muscles/tendons/ligaments surrounding the low back/pelvis/legs
• Physical therapies including moist heat, ice, massage
• Supportive devices such as low back supports designed especially for pregnancy
• Exercise instruction and recommendations
• Ergonomic and activity modifications

Get a referral from your OB/GYN physician who is educated to the value of chiropractic. And, speak to others that have benefited by chiropractic during pregnancy.

"I'm pregnant ... I'm uncomfortable ... I'm crabby!"