Treatment During Pregnancy
The American Chiropractic Association just released this useful information for moms to be. Pregnancy can cause a great strain on a woman’s body. With the baby growing women can feel pain in their back, legs, buttocks, and experience increased pressure on her sciatic nerve. Chiropractic care can help! Chiropractic is a safe non-drug non-surgical approach to back pain. Chiropractic care can also be helpful after childbirth. In the eight weeks following labor the ligaments begin to tighten up again. Any problems brought on during pregnancy from improper lifting/reaching should be addressed before the ligaments return to their pre-pregnancy state.
During both pre and post-delivery it is very important to understand that you are much more susceptible to injury. Your body is releasing the hormone Relaxin, which promotes loosening of your ligaments (in the pelvis and throughout the body) both before and after delivery, and the entire time you are breast feeding. Because of this fact your activities and treatment must be adjusted so that you do not injure yourself or aggravate a painful lower back condition (most common condition we see with pregnant or post-delivery patients). We have extensive experience working with pregnant women and use extensive soft-tissue protocols (myofascial release), gentle mobilization/manipulation, and exercises to promote a pain free pregnancy.