The sacrifices that come with expecting a newborn baby are quite challenging. One common complaint during pregnancy is lower back pain, and it affects about 57% to 69% of pregnant mothers, with an incidence rate of 61%. This pre-natal pain is often felt between the last thoracic vertebrae (T12) and the top of the sacral spine and involves musculature and skeleton in this region i.e.
The pain is of musculoskeletal origin. Nevertheless, the characteristics of the pain can vary depending on the woman’s body physiology and this can be triggered by psychosocial changes (emotional and mental well-being), hormonal fluctuations, changes in blood flow, and mechanical factors.
In this article, we will explain the underlying triggers of low back pain during pregnancy, various chiropractic interventions, and the overall benefits of chiropractic care during this period.
Factors that Contribute to Low Back Pain During Pregnancy
Hormonal Release:
During the rapid growth of the baby, the body naturally produces a hormone called relaxin. This is produced to loosen the joints and relax the ligaments in the pelvic area prior to delivery. But this hormonal release also causes the ligaments that support the spine to loosen, contributing to discomfort and pain in that region.
Bad Posture:
A woman’s center of gravity shifts forward as the baby grows bigger. To maintain balance, some of these women may unwittingly lean backward. The process strains the back muscles, resulting in muscle stiffness and then low back pain.
Weight Gain:
This is unavoidable during this period and it varies depending on the gravid woman’s starting weight. During pregnancy, women may experience significant weight increments depending on their initial weight. However, because the weight increments occur mostly in the abdomen, the spine in this region suddenly adapts to support the weight, which can sometimes lead to low back pain.
Muscle Separation:
The abdomen is made up of two sets of parallel bands of muscles that meet in the center. During pregnancy, the expanding fetus pushes these muscles and causes them to stretch. This weakens the abdominal muscles and increases the woman’s risk of developing lower back pain or pelvic pain.
The Causes
Having learned the causes of back pain in a pregnant woman, interventions would be the springboard for your curiosity. Well, all hands have been on deck and medical practitioners as well as alternative medical practitioners are working to help women combat this to the barest minimum. Chiropractic care is an alternative medicine that includes the treatment of pregnant mothers, to ensure a comfortable pregnancy, promote a smooth labor and delivery process, and also a pain-free post-partum life
Click here to see how chiropractic care is being used as one of the alternative forms of medicine that specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing mechanical disorders of the musculature and skeleton that are related to the region in the spine.
In addition, they are licensed professionals who help restore the mobility and function of the joint, reducing the pain, and improving its range of movement. This relieves expectant mothers from their common complaints of back pain by targeting the main causes in the aforementioned region. Chiropractic prenatal care specialists offer adjustments and techniques specifically designed to address the needs and concerns of gravid women.
It is a perfect procedure fit for the masses as it offers a drug-free and non-surgical alternative to alleviate pain, making it suitable for pregnant people and those who hate to use drugs and avoid surgery probably because of fear or financial difficulty.
How to Subside Back Pain in Gravid Patients
Diversified Technique:
This technique involves the utilization of a compact device called an activator, which applies a gentle impulse or pressure to the affected segment of the spine. It is widely favored by professionals in this field due to its non-invasive nature, quickness, ability to alleviate stress, and promotion of increased blood flow to expedite healing.
Webster Technique:
The evaluation of the sacrum and its alignment within the pelvis is essential for ensuring proper mobility of the sacroiliac joints. Additionally, soft tissue work on specific muscles such as the Piriformis and Iliopsoas, as well as ligaments like the Sacrotuberous and round ligaments, can help normalize tension in the uterus and reduce intrauterine constraint. Aside from pain relief, professionals use this method for optimal baby positioning and labor preparation.
Activator Technique:
The technique involves utilizing a handheld spring-loaded device to administer a consistent, gentle yet high-speed thrust to the restricted joints in the spine. This adjustment quickly and effectively improves mobility in the lumbar region, thereby reducing pain. By enabling the body to function at its optimal level, this method offers numerous benefits. With a speed 300 times faster than a traditional adjustment, the body rarely opposes the thrust, resulting in a comfortable and painless adjustment process.
Cox Flexion Distraction:
This technique combines precise pressure, stretching, and controlled movements to alleviate spinal issues. It is a widely recognized chiropractic method that effectively reduces pressure within the discs to 192mmHg, while also widening the spinal canal. This treatment is beneficial for relieving back pain, neck pain, and stiffness in the lower back, and correcting vertebral misalignment.
Gon Stead Technique:
It utilizes a sophisticated spinal analysis model to assess the spine through X-ray analysis, Instrumentation (Nervoscope) to identify inflammation, Motion palpation, Static palpation, and visualization. This approach makes it distinct from other chiropractic methods because it does not only focus on the spine but emphasizes the well-being of the body.
Aside from this alternative medicine being a natural pain reliever, here are some of the potential benefits of the treatment during pregnancy;
- It alleviates pregnancy-induced nausea.
- It helps in repositioning the baby in the uterus.
- It helps to eliminate postpartum pain.
- It shortens the duration of labor.
- It decreases the risk of preterm delivery.
- It minimizes the need for pain medication.
Chiropractic adjustment plays a crucial role during pregnancy and should not be underestimated. This form of alternative medicine utilizes natural techniques to minimize the need for pain medication. Avoiding excessive pain medication is necessary to protect the health of the mother and the baby, as any medication taken by the mother will be delivered to the fetus through the placenta via feto-maternal circulation. Let’s be cautious!