April 2024 Healthy News from OrthoIllinois Chiropractic Chiropractic Care and Exercise for Pregnancy-Related Back Pain
RELIEF FOR PREGNACY-RELATED BACK PAIN, LEG PAIN
Pregnancy-related low back pain, leg pain, pelvic pain and other neuromuscular pain issues zaps the happiness out of pregnancy for a few. Just ask a current or formerly pregnant woman! Care without medications is optimal for these sufferers. Chiropractic treatment with spinal manipulation is one such evidence-based treatment option. (1) In a study that did not track what type of care (if any) they underwent for their back pain, researchers found that the likelihood of the pain affecting self-grooming and work activities was twice the risk for those who experienced a combination of musculoskeletal pain issues versus just low back pain during pregnancy. Those who experienced both pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and low back pain (LBP) had a five-times higher likelihood of work absence. Those who had a mix of PGP and LBP had a 13-times greater likelihood. At 6 months postpartum, 16% still had some pain, 38% had persistent pain, 50% were pain-free. (2) This is where relieving care like chiropractic spinal manipulation comes into play. For example, a 26-year-old pregnant woman in her second trimester had severe pain in her low back and both hips and down her right leg expressed relief after her initial treatment with Cox® Technic flexion distraction decompression. Cox® spinal manipulation was performed in a side-lying, comfortable modified position for treatment. She reported complete relief of her pain after 8 visits. (3) Chiropractic is a non-drug, gentle option for pain relief throughout pregnancy. Let your pregnant friends know that they do not have to suffer with back pain!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Evaline Delson on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about the utilization of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management treatment protocols to help regain some pain free joy of the pregnancy.
McHenry HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH: Exercise for (Pregnancy-Related and All) Back Pain
Exercise certainly helps anyone with back pain and even those who experience back pain during pregnancy. 42.3% of pregnant women had low back pain which was more frequent than in the normal population. Being physically active with regular exercise was recommended. (4) A study of pregnant women who exercised from their 17th to their 34th week versus those who did not exerices reported 21.9 mm less low back pain and 12.9 mm less sciatic pain on a VAS (0-100) scale score, 6.9% reported less pain, slept better, had less pain while lifting, and were less limited in their social lives because of pain. (5) A review of the outcomes of 16 randomized clinical trials revealed that women who did physical activity throughout their pregnancy experienced less pain intensity, had decreases noted in their disability questionnaires, and reported less general pain overall. (6) What exercises work? A simple series of exercises centering on abdominal tightness, pelvic tilting, and foot and ankle movements were found to be statistically significant in lessening pregnancy-related musculoskeletal disorders. (7) The three basic exercises for back pain patients in the Cox® Technic System are similar: abdominal tightening, pelvic tilt, and knee chest exercises. So easy. So effective.
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic is pleased to be your McHenry chiropractor and appreciates your sharing your chiropractic care with family and friends, especially the pregnant ones this month! We look forward to seeing you soon!