Your body makes huge changes while pregnant to help create the perfect environment for developing and delivering a baby. These changes include an extended abdomen, pelvic changes as well as increased back curve which can commonly lead to low back pain. Overall, when it comes to postural adaptations, a lot of pressure is exerted on the musculoskeletal system of a mother. This is why it may be beneficial for pregnant women to seek chiropractic care during their pregnancy.(1)
It’s been estimated that at least 50% of pregnant women will suffer from low back pain. With one third of them suffering from severe pain.(2) As a part of our training, Chiropractors are qualified to work with women during pregnancy and we have adapted our techniques to be able to care for the pregnant spine. One recent study in NZ showed that chiropractic treatment helped significantly relieve low back pain and also improve pelvic floor muscle function in women experiencing pregnancy related low back pain.(3) In most cases gentle soft tissue release techniques, chiropractic manipulative techniques and assisted and home based stretching and muscular activation exercises can be employed with great benefit, though in some cases there can be an excess of movement in the spine and pelvis due to the rapid growth and stretching happening to the mother’s body. Therefore it is important as a practitioner we ask the right questions and undertake a thorough examination to determine our appropriate course of care.(4)
Our treatment approach is adaptive to your presentation as no two pregnancies are the same. As practitioners it is a privilege to be able to be a part of a new family’s journey into parenthood.
(1) Wang SM, DeZinno P, Fermo L, William K, Caldwell-Andrews AA, Bravemen F, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine for low-back pain in pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, NY). 2005 Jun;11(3):459-64. PubMed PMID: 15992230. Epub 2005/07/05. Eng.
(2) Katonis P, Kampouroglou A, Aggelopoulos A, et al. Pregnancy-related low back pain. Hippokratia. 2011;15(3):205‐210.
(3) Haavik H, Murphy BA, Kruger J. Effect of Spinal Manipulation on Pelvic Floor Functional Changes in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women: A Preliminary Study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2016 2016/06/01/;39(5):339-47.
(4) Shaw G. When to adjust: chiropractic and pregnancy. J Am Chiropr Assoc. 2003;40(11):8-16.
