How to Find Relief for Back Pain During Pregnancy
Physical therapy provides a wealth of treatment options for pregnancy-related back pain
Has your pregnancy triggered pain in your lower back? Know that you aren’t alone–it’s one of the most commonly reported complaints from expecting mothers, and between 60% and 70% of pregnancies include back pain as one of their many symptoms. Fortunately, the physical therapists at Beyond Therapy and Wellness in Texas offer a wealth of pain relief options.
Back pain during pregnancy can be a varied experience. Lower back pain is usually dull and might become more pronounced when you bend forward. If the source of pain is your pelvic girdle, you may experience sharp, shooting pain in your hips, pelvic region, or lower back.
Pregnancy-related back pain can be frustrating regardless of the specific type of pain you’re experiencing. You want to enjoy the preparations for your new baby, and instead, you find it challenging to move around! At Beyond Therapy and Wellness in Texas, we understand that you want an effective treatment that won’t harm your baby–and we’re ready to deliver!
Schedule an appointment with us today to learn more about your treatment options.
What causes pregnancy-related back pain?
The short answer is simple: you’re growing a baby! However, the pain’s exact cause can be a blend of hormonal and mechanical reasons.
Most women begin to experience symptoms in their second trimester. At that point, the additional weight of the baby shifts your center of gravity forward, putting pressure on the lower spine. This new weight might also cause you to unintentionally shift your posture or the way you move, which can also contribute to pain.
Another mechanical factor is related to your abdominal muscles, which will stretch to accommodate your new baby. When this happens, your abs can no longer support the spine the way they used to, leading to back pain.
However, your back pain may also have a hormonal cause, especially if your symptoms start in your first trimester. Your body changes tremendously during pregnancy, often in ways you might not be able to see.
One such change is an increase in the hormones relaxin and progesterone, which prepare the pelvis for your baby’s delivery by softening the ligaments and loosening the joints. This change can lead to instability in your pelvis and lower back, causing pain.
Beyond Therapy and Wellness’s approach to pain relief
While pregnancy-related back pain is common, there’s no reason for you to suffer! At Beyond Therapy and Wellness in Texas, we offer prenatal physical therapy designed to supplement the care you receive from your obstetrician. Through stretches, exercises, pain relief modalities, and prevention tips, we’ll help make your pregnancy as comfortable as possible.
We’ll start with an overview covering how to adapt to your new pregnant body. Ensuring proper ergonomics and movements can go a long way to relieving the pressure on your spinal joints. Some movement adjustments you can try include:
- Squatting to pick something up rather than bending over
- Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs
- Avoiding strain on your lower back (make your partner move heavy objects around!)
We’ll also provide counseling on exercises that might help reduce pain. Keeping active during pregnancy is important for your health and the baby’s, but doing so can be difficult if you have back pain. Several excellent low-impact exercise options have also been proven to decrease incidences of back pain in expectant mothers:
- Yoga
- Aquatic therapy (water aerobics)
- Swimming
- Walking
- Tai chi
Finally, we can offer treatments for the pain, such as massage therapy, heat therapy, or cryotherapy.
What you can expect at your first appointment with Beyond Therapy and Wellness
Your first appointment will likely consist of a thorough physical examination. At Beyond Therapy and Wellness, we want to get a sense of your entire musculoskeletal system and how it might be affected by your pregnancy. This assessment helps us determine the best course of action for your treatment.
Your first appointment will also likely include plenty of prevention tips and strategies based on your specific needs. We’ll also work with you to develop a customized treatment plan using a blend of exercise and pain-relieving modalities as needed.
At subsequent appointments, we’ll measure your progress and work to ensure your pain is decreasing, adjusting treatment as necessary.
Schedule your appointment with Beyond Therapy and Wellness today!
At Beyond Therapy and Wellness in Texas, we know you don’t want to worry about lower back pain while you’re preparing to welcome your new baby.
Schedule an appointment with Beyond Therapy and Wellness today to learn more about how physical therapy can provide back pain relief–so you can focus on what matters.
