A common complaint that we see in our office is musculoskeletal pain, primarily low back pain, related to pregnancy. The very next question is usually, can pre-natal massage or chiropractic care help with these complaints? Please read on to find out!
From the Research:
- 50-85% of women experience low back pain during pregnancy
- 20% of women experience pain in the pelvic girdle during pregnancy
- Up to 20% of women will continue to experience symptoms 2-3 years following childbirth
What causes low back and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy?
- Altered biomechanics and rib movement due to an expanding belly
- Increased joint laxity due to increases in the hormone relaxin
- Lower limb dysfunction related to increasing weight
- Falling arches related to hormonal and weight gain
How can Chiropractors and Massage Therapists help?
Chiropractors:
- Offer customized exercises and education
- Assist with stretching
- Provide joint mobilization/spinal manipulation
- Can fit pregnant patients with custom bracing for their situation
Massage Therapists:
- Offer pre and post natal massage, focused on the needs of the mother to be as her body changes through pregnancy
- Relax tight muscles
- Offer lymphatic drainage techniques to reduce swelling and aching in legs
- Promote relaxation to assist in reducing depression and anxiety
Chiropractic and massage therapy can also assist in
- Reducing or relieving neck pain, headaches, leg cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome and other pregnancy associated complaints
- Fit patients for custom compression stockings to prevent and manage varicose veins
- Assist in maintaining healthy postures throughout pregnancy to relieve stress on weight bearing joints
Should you have any questions about your situation, please don’t hesitate to consult with a trained chiropractor or massage therapist in your area. Manual therapy is a safe and effective way to improve the experience of pregnancy!
