April 2024 Healthy News from Satterwhite 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 conditions drains the joy out of pregnancy for some. Just ask a current or formerly pregnant woman! Care without medications is optimal for these patients. Chiropractic treatment with spinal manipulation is one type of evidence-based treatment option. (1) In a study that didn’t track what kind of care (if any) they underwent for their back pain, researchers found that the likelihood of the pain restricting self-grooming and work activities was doubled for those who experienced a combination of musculoskeletal pain issues versus just low back pain throughout 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 higher 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 complained of severe pain in her lower back and both hips and into her right leg expressed relief after her first treatment with Cox® Technic flexion distraction decompression. Cox® spinal manipulation was delivered in a side-lying, comfortable modified position for treatment. She reported complete relief of her pain with 8 visits. (3) Chiropractic is a non-drug, gentle option for pain relief throughout pregnancy. Let your pregnant friends know that they don’t 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 restore some pain free joy of the pregnancy.
Oxford HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH: Exercise for (Pregnancy-Related and All) Back Pain
Exercise surely benefits 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 common than in the normal population. Being physically active with regular exercise was suggested (4) A study of pregnant women who exercised from their 17th to their 34th week versus those who didn’t reported 21.9 mm less low back pain and 12.9 mm less sciatic pain on a VAS (0-100) scale score, 6.9% said they had less pain, slept better, had less pain while lifting, and were less restricted in their social lives due to pain. (5) A review of the results of 16 randomized clinical trials found that women who did physical activity throughout their pregnancy experienced less pain intensity, had decreases noted in their disability questionnaires, and noted less general pain overall. (6) What exercises are effective? 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 comparable: abdominal tightening, pelvic tilt, and knee chest exercises. So easy. So effective.
Satterwhite Chiropractic is pleased to be your Oxford chiropractor and values your sharing your chiropractic care with family and friends, especially the pregnant ones this month! See you soon!