Back pain during pregnancy? How a Chiro can help you
Is your back suffering from pregnancy? If so, chiropractic treatment could be the fast and effective pain-relief treatment for you! Check out the pic below for examples of pregnancy related back pain.
Interested in learning more? Our blog post on the topic is written by our Chiropractor, Dr. Veronica Wang, who has a special interest in treating women suffering with this problem, as is available to help you if you're based near Sydney CBD, Chatswood or North Sydney.
So who is a Chiro?
A chiropractor is a healthcare professional focused on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to the body's structure, most often musculoskeletal or neuromuscular issues, which are the symptoms that a mother-to-be will usually encounter.
What type of pain you might be feeling
Here are the most common symptoms associated with pregnancy:
Forward tilting of the neck: neck pain, numbness and tingling in hands and fingers, pain between the shoulder blades, carpal tunnel syndrome
Forward tilting of the pelvis: sciatica, low back pain, leg pain, public pain
Hyperextension of the knee & flattening of the feet: heel pain, foot pain
Backwards extensions of the head: neck pain and stiffness, headaches
Hyperextension of the upper back: rib pain, difficulty breathing
Accentuated low back curvature: low back pain, tight hip flexors
As you can see from the above, you or your wife may experience various discomforts around the body during pregnancy. That is because a women’s body is going through many changes to accommodate a growing baby. During this time, about 50% of pregnant women’ primary complaints are lower back pain or pelvic girdle pain, pelvis misalignment and increased low back curvature which can trigger pain. (Katonis, et al, 2011).
Why pregnant women need pelvic alignment?
Establishing pelvic alignment and symmetry is very important for pregnant women. Ideally, a better alignment in the pelvic region can decrease intrauterine constraint and allow the baby to pass through the labour canal with less stress. However, when the pelvis is misaligned, it may reduce the size of room availability for the developing baby, causing intrauterine constraint and lower back pain. A misaligned pelvis may also make it difficult for the baby to get into the best possible position for delivery. This can affect the mother’s ability to have a natural, non-invasive birth. Breech and posterior positions can interfere with the natural ease of labour and lead to surgical interventions.
Benefits & type of chiropractic treatment for pregnancy
Chiropractic care for the pregnant patient involves specific adjustments to spinal, pelvic and peripheral joints to restore normal joint movement and optimise the function of the nervous system. This will need comprehensive work on joints, muscles and ligaments, creating a better functioning and stability of all your body joints.
Chiropractors will also consider maintaining the best pelvic and spinal position possible, to allow for growth and development of the baby, and fewer complications during pregnancy, delivery, and post-natal stages.
Also, maintaining a good spine alignment can improve the overall functioning of the nervous system, which may help with nausea.
In conclusion, regular chiropractic care can be an essential part of any woman’s pregnancy, allowing you to stay mobile and healthy during this special time in your life. The investigation by Shaw (2003) has shown that about 75% of pregnant patients who received chiropractic care during their pregnancies stated that they found relief from pain. Therefore, chiropractic treatment can enable women to carry and deliver their children with more comfort and ease.
How to book in to see a chiro
Our chiropractor Veronica has additional training for low-force pregnancy adjustment/mobilisation techniques and myofascia release skills. You can enjoy your gentle, safe and evidence-based treatments with her and other chiropractors at North Sydney, Chatswood, and Sydney CBD locations.
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Reference
Katonis, P., Kampouroglou, A., Aggelopoulos, A., Kakavelakis, K., Lykoudis, S., Makrigiannakis, A., and Alpantaki, K. Pregnancy-related low back pain. Hippokratia. 2011 Jul-Sep; 15(3): 205–210.
Shaw G. When to adjust: Chiropractic and Pregnancy. J Am Chiropr Assoc. 2003;40(11):8–16.
