By Dr. Cheryl McFarland
Published October 25, 2004
According to scientific studies, roughly one half of all pregnant women suffer from low back pain. Fortunately, there's a powerful and safe solution to pregnancy-related backache: chiropractic care. In fact, chiropractic care helps many expectant mothers prepare for childbirth without the needless aggravation of back pain.
Who's at risk?
The fact that pregnancy-related back pain is so widespread should motivate every expectant mother to focus on prevention. However, some women are at an even greater risk than others, according to a Swedish study of 804 moms-to-be. For example, a history of back pain doubles a woman's odds of backache during pregnancy. In addition, moms-to-be who have physically demanding jobs are more likely to develop back pain than are their peers with sedentary occupations. Younger women tend to suffer from pregnancy-related backache more than older women - and expectant mothers who already have had children are at an elevated risk, compared with first-time moms.
Pain/hormone connection
Although backache occurs with similar frequency in both pregnant and non-pregnant women, back pain during pregnancy tends to be more severe. Why does pregnancy provoke such intense back discomfort? Chiropractors, point to a condition called sacroiliac joint dysfunction (also called SI joint dysfunction or SI subluxation). Scientific research shows that SI joint dysfunction is the primary cause of pregnancy-related back pain.
SI joint dysfunction involves misalignment or restricted movement in the sacrum and two iliac bones that form the pelvic girdle. In preparation for delivery, the body increases production of a hormone called relaxin. This hormone softens the ligaments that hold the pelvic bones together. Although this process facilitates delivery, it also undermines the alignment of the sacrum and adjacent iliac bones.
Scientific reports support the link between relaxin and SI joint dysfunction. One recent study looked at 200 expectant mothers. Early in their pregnancies, the women underwent blood tests. Findings showed women with high levels of relaxin were likely to develop back pain. Another study, which enrolled 403 women during late pregnancy, found that women with severe back pain had much higher levels of relaxin, compared with pain-free women.
Part Two will discuss further causes of low back pain during pregnancy and more benefits of chiropractic care for the pregnant woman.
-- Editor's note: This public service information was provided by Dr. Cheryl McFarland of Better Health Chiropractic, 6166 W Gulf to Lake Highway, Crystal River. Call 795-8911.
