Low back pain is a common and uncomfortable side effect of pregnancy.  It can impact both the mobility and overall wellness of a woman during pregnancy.   However, there is no reason to allow back pain to interfere with your daily activities, work, or prevent you from getting restful sleep.  With some guidance, a woman may reduce the pain and discomfort to manageable levels or prevent the onset of chronic low back pain.

Causes
Changes in hormone activity during pregnancy prepare a woman’s body for birth.   The hormones loosen joints and ligaments that support the pelvis and spine.  Pain can result from overuse of spinal muscles that compensate for this reduced support.   The increased weight that a woman carries during pregnancy sometimes leads to poor posture placing increased pressure on the lower back. Pain may be felt only in the back, or may radiate into the buttocks, hip, groin, or legs.  A pregnant woman with other small children must be cautious about picking up small children or other objects using her back.  She should lift with her legs, keeping the child close to your body at all times.

Physical Therapy Options
As an expert in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives, a physical therapist can evaluate and design a plan of care to meet your specific needs.  Your physical therapist will consider your medical history, your trimester (as it relates to the changes in your body), and your prior level of activity.  Your treatment plan may include:

• Recommendations for sleeping positions
• Recommendations for modifying daily activities
• Deep tissue mobilization to reduce muscular pain
• Spinal or pelvic joint mobilization or stabilization
• Exercises to help postural alignment and body balance
• Exercises to improve strength, mobility and flexibility
• Braces for support of the lower back and abdomen
• Recommendations for fitness and maintaining an exercise program while pregnant
• Recommendations for techniques or positioning during delivery to reduce strain on the low back
• Follow-up evaluation and treatment after delivery for instruction in exercises to restore strength to compromised muscles

References
MoveForwardPT.com. Pregnancy and Low Back Pain.  http://www.moveforwardpt.com/find-your-condition/pregnancy/pregnancy-and-low-back-pain/.  October 22, 2010.

KnowYourBack.org. Pregnancy and Back Pain.  http://www.knowyourback.org/Pages/BackPainPrevention/Pregnancy.aspx.  October 22, 2010.