Back Pain, Sciatica and Pregnancy

By: Diane Marsh

The North Shore Women's Journal, http://www.nswj.com July issue reports: Whether you are pregnant for the first time, or expecting the latest addition to your family, this special time in your life requires the best care for you and your baby. However, for more than half of all pregnant women, low-back pain is inevitable. Many women also experience headaches, sciatica, varicose veins, carpal tunnel syndrome and muscle cramps.

What causes it?

Kevin McGovern, PT, CSCS of McGovern Physical Therapy Associates says, "during pregnancy, the ligaments between your pelvic bones begin to soften and your joints loosen in preparation for the baby's passage through your pelvis. These changes result in hyper-mobility (too much) of the joints in your pelvis, which have not moved very much since you were 3 years old."

"This movement causes considerable discomfort on either side of your lower back, often with walking, especially up and down stairs."

In the second trimester, your uterus becomes heavier, changing your center of gravity. Gradually, and perhaps without notice, you begin to adjust your posture and the ways in which you move. The compensations you make for these postural changes can result in back pain, strain or other injury.

After child birth the pelvic floor muscles can remain in this over stretched position causing pelvic instability which leads to pain. One easy way to notice pelvic floor muscle weakness is when a mother has a second pregnancy and "shows" much earlier than with her first pregnancy. This is due to the pelvic floor not being able to stabilize the lower abdominal contents and the fetus, thus causing an earlier bulge.

What can you do?

A simple exercise program begun early in pregnancy can make a world of difference. Exercises that increase low back strength, abdominal muscle strength, pelvic floor stability, and increase flexibility of the hamstrings and emphasize pelvic-tilt are just some of the ways towards reducing the risk of low back pain later in pregnancy. Such exercises help promote better spine posture while minimizing the increasingly unnatural forces being placed across the lower back structures.

No exercise program should be started, however, without first consulting your physician and, if he or she so determines, without the guidance of a physical therapist familiar with pregnancy-related back pain.

After giving birth, upper back and neck pain are also common. Lifting and carrying a growing baby can cause a hunched over posture and greater muscle or ligament pain. Physical therapy can help reduce your pain at this time as well as controlling it throughout your pregnancy.

McGovern Physical Therapy Associates "FIT FOR MOTHERHOOD" program has the solutions for low back pain and other pregnancy-related conditions. Strengthening exercises done throughout your pregnancy will help you during labor and delivery and while caring for your growing infant. Let The Personal Care Professionals help you so you and your baby can enjoy this special time, pain free.

McGovern Physical Therapy Associates, The Personal Care Professionals, is a multi-specialty provider of outpatient physical therapy care. Voted "Best PT Practice 2004" by ADVANCE for Directors in Rehabilitation magazine, our clinicians offer personalized manual therapy and exercise expertise, including a variety of customized treatment options.

Combining innovation, experience and excellence, our staff of clinicians, as well as dedicated office personnel, works as a team to provide caring, convenient and professional service for total patient recovery. For more information, please visit http://www.mcgovernpt.com.

To read more about Prengancy and Back Pain and also read other informative articles visit http://www.NSWJ.com. The Women’s Journal Newspapers are rated the #1 Educational Newspaper in the United States, according to a survey by U.S. World and Review. The Women’s Journal seeks to educate readers as well as provide objective opinions.

Each of our national, award-winning Women’s Newspapers™ is an informative, objective and educational local resource for the community. Published 6 times a year, The North Shore Women's Journal (NSWJ.com) serves readers with the professional best in local businesses by providing valued information in a wide variety of special columns, features and ad space.

We offer editorial coverage, a low advertising rate and most importantly, targeted marketing to women.