OSTEOPATHY AND PREGNANCY BACK PAIN
Osteopathic care during pregnancy helps to relieve or prevent symptoms enabling women to feel pain free, relaxed and energetic. Pain in pregnancy is common and can be treated effectively and usually quite quickly.
When there are previous stresses or strains on the body prior to pregnancy the body may not be able to adapt to the extra demands of pregnancy , resulting in symptoms such as back pain, sacro-iliac pain, pubic or groin pain, rib pain, indigestion, or shortness of breath.
Osteopathy helps to prepare the pelvis for the birthing process by gently realigning the sacrum in particular, which will help facilitate the movement of the baby through the birth canal.
PREGNANCY AND BACK PAIN – CAUSES
- Increased levels of the hormone Relaxin: This softens your ligaments to allow the baby to pass through your pelvis, however this puts more strain on muscles and tendons making them ache.
- Your uterus expands: This shifts your centre of gravity forward putting more strain on your spine causing discomfort.
- Weak abdominal tone: the muscles around your abdomen are designed to give some support to the lower back. Osteopathic treatment throughout the pregnancy and advice on specific exercises can help strengthen and relieve pressure in these muscles.
- Posture: When you are tired and aching it can be all too tempting to slump on a couch and hope that when you get up you will feel better. This rarely works. Postural advice during pregnancy will help avoid and alleviate any discomfort you may be experiencing.
PREGNANCY AND BACK PAIN – OSTEOPATHY TREATMENT
Osteopathy is a very gentle form of treatment which is very safe for pregnant women. Valerie treats many pregnant women with a range of symptoms like neck, shoulder, back and pelvic pain. In addition to the hands on treatment you receive you will also be given advice and shown safe exercises and stretches to help you manage your symptoms during the pregnancy.
Treatments include:
- Joint Mobilisation Techniques – to promote greater range of movement in the back, free trapped nerves and prepare the birth canal.
- Soft Tissue Release Techniques (such as massage) – to reduce muscle spasms
- Cranial Osteopathy
- Postural guidance and safe exercises – to make your body stronger and more flexible, so that your symptoms don’t keep coming back.
WHAT CAUSES POST-PARTUM PROBLEMS?
Repetitive lifting and carrying, weak abdominal muscles, increased weight, previous back injury (including during pregnancy) and poor posture are some of the causes of post-partum problems.
Activities like feeding, carrying and lifting your child and carrying awkward car seats place significant strains on areas such as the back, shoulder, neck, arm and wrist. The pregnancy will also have stretched the abdominal muscles, increased your weight and changed your posture and gait (how you walk), making it harder for your abdominal muscles to support the lower back.
What’s more, the pregnancy hormones Relaxin continues to act on the ligaments, making them more lax for approximately five months after childbirth. This places more pressure on the joints, ligaments and discs of the lower back and can make them more vulnerable to injury and misalignment.
HOW DOES OSTEOPATHIC TREATMENT HELP?
Valerie treats lots of new mums, using a range of approaches to address the problems described above. Treatments include:
- Joint Mobilisation Techniques – to promote greater range of movement in the back and free trapped nerves and to realign the pelvis and spine after the whole pregnancy/birth experience.
- Soft Tissue Release Techniques – to reduce muscle spasms
- Cranial Osteopathy
- Postural guidance and safe exercises – to make your body stronger and more flexible.