April 2024 Healthy News from Johnson Chiropractic Chiropractic Care and Exercise for Pregnancy-Related Back Pain
RELIEF FOR PREGNACY-RELATED BACK PAIN, LEG PAIN
Pregnancy-associated low back pain, leg pain, pelvic pain and other neuromuscular pain issues drains the happiness 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 type of care (if any) they underwent for their back pain, researchers discovered that the likelihood of the pain restricting self-grooming and work activities was twice the risk for those who had a combination of musculoskeletal pain complaints versus just low back pain during pregnancy. Those who had both pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and low back pain (LBP) had a five-times higher likelihood of work absence. Those who noted that they experienced a mix of PGP and LBP had a 13-times greater 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 had severe pain in her low back and both hips and into her right leg expressed relief after her initial treatment with Cox® Technic flexion distraction decompression. Cox® spinal manipulation was performed in a side-lying, comfortable modified position for treatment. She noted complete relief of her pain after 8 visits. (3) Chiropractic is a non-drug, gentle option for pain relief during pregnancy. Let your pregnant friends know that they do not 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 use of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management treatment protocols to help regain some pain free joy of the pregnancy.
Richmond HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH: Exercise for (Pregnancy-Related and All) Back Pain
Exercise surely helps anyone with back pain and even those who have back pain while pregnant. 42.3% of pregnant women had low back pain which was more frequent 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 did not exerices reported 21.9 mm less low back pain and 12.9 mm less sciatic pain on a VAS (0-100) scale score, 6.9% reported less pain, slept better, had less pain when lifting, and were less restricted in their social lives due to pain. (5) A review of the results of 16 randomized clinical trials revealed that women who did physical activity throughout their pregnancy experienced less pain intensity, had decreases noted in their disability questionnaires, and reported less general pain overall. (6) What exercises work? A simple series of exercises focusing 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.
Johnson Chiropractic is honored to be your Richmond chiropractor and values your sharing your chiropractic care with family and friends, especially the pregnant ones this month! See you soon!