Pregnancy & Physiotherapy
- Mar 11, 2015
- 2 min read
Pregnancy is altogether the most wonderful time in a woman’s life and possibly the most challenging time as well. While a soon-to-be mother is experiencing a tiny life growing inside her tummy, her body is also undergoing difficult changes to accommodate this growing little person. Many of these physical changes can lead to low back and pelvic pain and, unfortunately, too many women attempt to endure or ignore the symptoms thinking that it’s merely “part of the process”.
The number of pregnant women who experience back pain is somewhere between 50 to 70 percent. The reasons for back pain vary from person to person, but the majority of back pain concerns can be accounted for by one of the following reasons:
an increase in hormones: the release of the hormone relaxin is necessary for the ligaments in the pelvis to soften and relax as a woman gets closer to delivering her new baby – this often results in low back or pelvic pain since joint stability is compromised by the hormonal changes
a change of the body’s center of gravity: a growing baby leads to a growing belly – this shift in weight to the front of the body alters the pressure on the low back and the pelvis
gaining additional weight: with a little person growing inside of a new mom’s belly, there is added pressure on the pelvis and low back as well
a decline in posture
added stress
When you also consider that women are now having children later in life, very likely while also juggling a full-time career, it becomes increasingly difficult to find the time and energy to address these physical changes and the symptoms associated with them.
Take heart! Physiotherapists (PT’s) in Canada are considered primary healthcare providers – this means that most insurance plans do not require a physician’s note in order to see a PT. PT’s will perform a detailed assessment of your symptoms (i.e. back pain, pelvic pain, sciatica, neck pain, incontinence, etc.) and design a treatment plan to specifically address your impairments.
Treatment plans take a comprehensive approach by working on pain’s typical triggers:
posture: the changes that occur due to additional baby weight, the hormone relaxin and an altered center of gravity can (to some degree) be influenced by stretches, strength exercises and education
joint alignment: at times, the pelvis or low back requires manual therapy to readjust the position of these bones
muscle strength: addressing muscle strength early in the pregnancy can assist in mitigating postural changes and pain while also influencing post-birth recovery rate in a very positive way
flexibility
nerve involvement: many women experience sciatica due to shifts in low back and pelvic positioning – manual therapy and exercise can help address this
Congratulations on your pregnancy, and best of luck with the birth of your child! If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed here, remember that feeling significant pain and physical stress is not a “rite of passage” for mothers. Contact a physiotherapist and discuss with them how you can minimize your symptoms and maximize your enjoyment of impending motherhood.
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