Pregnancy and Quality of Life
Pregnancy physical therapy can be useful for common discomforts like back pain or for enhancing your body’s ability to have a smoother pregnancy and birth. Physical therapy is not just for recovery.
The number of pregnant women who experience back pain is somewhere between 50 to 70 percent.
The reasons for back pain vary from person to person, but the majority of back pain can be caused by the following reasons:
an increase in hormones
a change in the body’s center of gravity
gaining additional weight
a decline in posture
added stress
Additional weight, poor posture, stress, and control of the center of gravity are not independent of one another. A change in your center of gravity affects your posture, which causes the muscles to work harder. Increased exertion creates fatigue, which leads to a decreased motivation to be active. Though it is difficult, this domino effect can be slowed down with the help of physical therapy.
Low back pain is a common issue for many expecting mothers. As the uterus and baby grow, the mother’s center of gravity moves forward. This shift increases the amount of force the muscles must generate for everyday support causing women to slump forward. Over time this poor alignment creates muscle tightness in the pectoral muscles, rolling the shoulders forward and creating increased stress on the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and mid-back.
If these muscular factors are not addressed, these forces will translate down to the low back, an area which is already under a great deal of stress because it is supporting the increased center of gravity.
A recent study evaluated the effect of a physical therapy exercise and health care education program on the psychological well-being of new mothers. There was significant improvement in well-being scores and depressive symptoms of the M&B group compared with the EO group over the study period. More specifically, there was a significant positive effect on well-being scores and depressive symptoms at 8 weeks, and this effect was maintained 4 weeks after completion of the program. The number of women identified as "at risk" for postnatal depression pre-intervention was reduced by 50% by the end of the intervention.
Pregnancy is the ultimate strain on one’s body. Physical therapy can intervene to lessen this strain. A proactive strength, flexibility, and stabilization program can be beneficial in preventing or decreasing the intensity of painful symptoms, thus making your pregnancy experience a more positive one.
Written by Daniel Le, DPT
References:
Norman E, Sherburn M, Osborne RH, Galea MP. An exercise and education program improves well-being of new mothers: a randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther. 2010;90(3):348-355.