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Pregnancy-related Musculoskeletal Dysfunction
Pregnant women may suffer from pain or aching in the back, shoulder blades, rib cage, groin area, or wrists. As a result, these women are not only more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, but related orthopedic problems may persist or begin following pregnancy.
While pregnancy is a time of excitement and joy, more than half of all pregnant women suffer from back pain or some other orthopedic problem. Although back pain during pregnancy is common, it is not normal.
A combination of factors can cause back pain, including changing posture to adjust to the fetus’s growth, as well as an increase in maternal hormones, which can cause increased elasticity of the body’s “soft tissues” (ligaments, tendons, and cartilage).
How Physical Therapy Can Help:
For each area of concern, a physical therapist can evaluate the problem and design an individualized program of care to improve your function and enable you to manage your symptoms more effectively.
Typical interventions may include:- Exercises to stretch tight muscles, strengthen weakened ones, and/or improve posture
- Massage or soft-tissue techniques to increase circulation, relieve pain, or improve tissue mobility
- Joint mobilization to allow movement at the joints and to relieve pain
- Fitting of therapeutic supports and belts
- Suggestions for appropriate body mechanics, stress reduction, and energy-saving tips for home and work
High-Risk Pregnancy
For a women in a high-risk pregnancy, bed rest is often necessary. In fact, 20 percent of all pregnant women in the United States are placed on bed rest for at least a week. For those women on prolonged bed rest, whether at home or in the hospital, several problems may result, including:
- joint pain
- stress
- altered circulation
- decreased endurance
- decreased strength
How Physical Therapy Can Help:
A physical therapist can design an individualized program of care to enable you to more effectively manage the problems of prolonged bed rest during pregnancy.
A suggested program may include:- Gentle range of motion exercises to avoid joint pain and stiffness and to reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs
- Relaxation training to help cope with the stresses of isolation, boredom, and worry about pregnancy outcome, as well as the physical stress of long-term bed rest
- Proper bed positioning to increase comfort and prevent joint problems
(check out our pregnancy positioning suggestions under wellness tips)
- A rehabilitation program to increase your strength and endurance after the baby is born
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