April 2024 Healthy News from Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka Chiropractic Care and Exercise for Pregnancy-Related Back Pain
RELIEF FOR PREGNACY-RELATED BACK PAIN, LEG PAIN
Pregnancy-related low back pain, leg pain, pelvic pain and other neuromuscular pain issues zaps the joy out of pregnancy for some. Just ask anyone who’s been pregnant! Treatment without medications is desirable for these sufferers. Chiropractic treatment with spinal manipulation is one type of evidence-based treatment option. (1) In a study that didn’t track what kind of care (if any) they received for their back pain, researchers discovered that the likelihood of the pain affecting self-grooming and work activities was doubled for those who had a combination of musculoskeletal pain issues versus just low back pain during pregnancy. Those who experienced both pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and low back pain (LBP) had five times greater risk of work absence. Those who had 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 pain alleviating 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 lower back and both hips and down her right leg noted relief after her initial treatment with Cox® Technic flexion distraction decompression. Cox® spinal manipulation was delivered 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 throughout 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 utilization of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management treatment protocols to help restore some pain free joy of the pregnancy.
Sitka HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH: Exercise for (Pregnancy-Related and All) Back Pain
Exercise certainly benefits 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 common than in the normal population. Being physically active with regular exercise was recommended. (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% said they had less pain, slept better, had less pain while lifting, and were less restricted in their social lives because of pain. (5) A review of the results of 16 randomized clinical trials revealed that women who did physical activity throughout their pregnancy had less pain intensity, had reductions noted in their disability questionnaires, and noted less general pain overall. (6) What exercises are effective? A simple series of exercises centering on abdominal tightness, pelvic tilting, and foot and ankle movements were found to be statistically significant in decreasing 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.
Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is pleased to be your Sitka chiropractor and appreciates your sharing your chiropractic care with family and friends, especially the pregnant ones this month! We look forward to seeing you soon!