mid back pain pregnancy Expecting a child is a time of joyful anticipation and excitement. For many women, it's also a time when they first experience back pain, headaches, and other newfound conditions.Low-back Pain
Pregnancy-related mid back pain pregnancy is attributed to a condition known as sacroiliac joint dysfunction (or SI subluxation). Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a misalignment of a joint that aggravates the surrounding tissues and nerves. The sacroiliac joints are formed by the connection of the sacrum (the bone above the tailbone) with the inominate bones (the hip bones).The onset of hormones during pregnancy relaxes muscles, ligaments, and joints in order to facilitate the baby's delivery through the birth canal. This relaxation accompanies the weight gain, stretching of the stomach, and postural changes. Subluxations result from the affected alignment of the pelvis and the spine, bringing stress on the nerves, joints and discs.But while back pain is very common among expecting women, not all of them seek treatment, or even know what their options are to alleviate the pain. CAM therapy for the management of low back pain, massage, relaxation, yoga, acupuncture, and chiropractic care are among the methods that have proved useful in reducing low back pain.In the case of chiropractic care, observational research shows positive results in relieving low-back pain in pregnant women. One case series on spinal manipulation for low-back pain showed that over 90 percent of pregnant women treated with chiropractic care displayed clinical improvement - improvement that came without side effects.Headaches, Mid-back, and Rib Pain.
The changes that come with pregnancy lays extra stress on the mid back and the neck, creating subluxations of the neck and resulting in headaches. These headaches are mostly due to tension of the muscles.Subluxations that irritate the nerves between the ribs cause pain in the mid-back and ribcage. Chiropractic care addresses these subluxations, reducing or removing the pain. Chiropractors fix subluxations by performing chiropractic adjustments that puts light pressure on the joints of the spine. This is done to restore alignment and motion, reduce stress on the nervous system, and the attendant pain and muscle spasms.Webster Breech Chiropractic Technique
One chiropractic technique, known as the Webster Breech Turning Technique, has also shown solid results in helping mothers deliver "breech babies." This gentle, non-invasive technique corrects the misalignment of the pelvis, reducing muscle and ligament spasms from the uterus and the pelvic bones. This helps the baby turn and get in position for optimum delivery.The Requirements of a Pregnant Woman
Although there are no contraindications to chiropractic adjustments above the lumbar area, the techniques recommended for expecting women must be gentler overall. And as the pregnancy progresses, exercises must be gentler still. These adjustments can come in the form of side-posture, low-impact techniques, or working directly with the muscles. Massage, stretching, and certain types of exercise form an integral part of the care involved. Since the hormones activated during pregnancy relax the ligaments, regular adjustments may not be as effective.The adjustments made on a pregnant woman may incorporate acupuncture, massage, and other complementary methods. Electrical stimulation, however, is not recommended. For maximum comfort, special pregnancy pillows and tables with an abdominal part that lets the patient comfortably lie down might be employed.The Role of Exercise
Exercising while pregnant may present a challenge; however, exercises that balance physical changes may also aid the body. Since the pelvis becomes unstable, patients must seek out exercises that make up for the lack of ligament support. These can come in the form of exercises targeted at stabilizing the pelvis and spine through muscle co-contraction (co-contracting the trunk muscles with the pelvic floor muscles). These are similar to stabilization exercises for other back pain patients.In the first trimester of pregnancy, these exercises can be performed lying on the back, and focusing on holding the co-contraction while going into the bridge position. Patients then raise one leg at a time in order to increase the effort. Some say optimum benefits coincide with exercising motor control in a position that is weight-bearing.Other patients may do well with postural exercises that are focused on preventing a sway back and maintaining an upright thoracic spine. (During pregnancy, ligaments loosen and muscles get stressed as a result.) Hip extensions, with or without the aid of elastic bands, are recommended to keep the muscles malleable.The earlier in the pregnancy a woman exercises, the more flexible her body will be. This results in less pain later on. After the second trimester, the increased body size and movement restrictions make it more difficult to exercise.The Chiropractic Role
Chiropractic care during pregnancy offers general health benefits. It is a medication-free approach to pain reduction that restores balance to the pelvis and its connecting muscles and ligaments, leading to a smoother delivery overall.