Back Pain During Pregnancy How do I manage

1
Back Pain During Pregnancy How do I manage?

• By Joyce Flores, MPT
• Cathy Villanueva,
  MPT

2
Im pregnant
3
How am I feeling?

• My back hurts.
• bloated
• constipated
• I have no energy at all Im exhausted all the
  time.
• I cant fall asleep at night.

• gaining weight like crazy
• Im feeling extremely moody.

4
Back Pain During Pregnancy

• About 50 of women experience some kind of
  lumbopelvic (low back pelvic girdle pain)
  during pregnancy.
• Many of the physiologic and morphologic changes
  of pregnancy persist 4-6 weeks postpartum.
  (ACOG, 2002)
• Most of the pain disappears within 1-3 months
  after delivery.
  (Stuge at al., 2004)

5
Why do I have back pain?

• Center of gravity changes
• Uterus is heavier larger
• Center of gravity shifts forward
• Naturally you adjust posture movement to
  compensate
• Compensations puts new strain on low back hips

• More mobility in pelvic joints
• Ligaments soften, joints loosen to prepare for
  birth
• Hormone relaxin
• Possible low back pain esp. with walking stairs

6
Why do I have back pain?

• Poor posture
• Increased lordosis
• Poor muscle tone

• Tight hip flexors from sitting too long
• Abdominal muscles may separate
• Diastasis recti

7
What can I do?

• Practice correct posture

• Shift weight when standing long periods
• Sit with feet slightly elevated
• Lift correctly
• Dont make sudden reaching movements
• Sidelying while sleeping/ resting
• Exercise
• pelvic stabilization, back stretches, abdominal
  strengthening

8
Benefits of Exercise

• Promotes muscle tone, strength, endurance,
  stamina
• ? likelihood of having an easier, shorter less
  complicated labor

• Helps reduce backaches, constipation, bloating
  swelling
• ? energy
• Improves mood
• Improves posture
• Improves circulation

9
Benefits of Exercise

• Helps you sleep better
• Burns calories maintains healthy steady weight
  gain
• Reduces risk of gestational diabetes
• Helps control ? blood pressure
• Accelerates postpartum weight loss recovery
  time
• Establishes permanent healthy lifestyle habits

10
Low back pain and Pregnancy Class

• Class will be offered every third Friday of the
  month (1000) will encompass these topics
• Incidence of back pain during pregnancy
• Why do I have back pain?
• Posture body mechanics
• Exercise-Why its different during pregnancy?
• Benefits of exercise
• Contraindications/ reasons to discontinue
  exercise
• ACOG recommendations/ general exercise guidelines
• Exercise safe choices, monitoring frequency/
  intensity
• Strengthening the pelvic floor- Kegels
• Gentle abdominal strengthening, back stretches
• Core strengthening
• Please have your OB physician enter a CHCS
  consult to attend this class.