Many people, especially pregnant women and those who have recently delivered a baby, suffer from lower back pain, which can become debilitating if left untreated - just at a time when new moms most want to enjoy every moment with their babies and their families, and savour life as a new parent.
Fortunately, lower back pain can often be alleviated with physiotherapy. Our specially trained physiotherapists at our Orleans physiotherapy center can help you address lower back pain with a series of treatments and exercises.
What causes low back pain for pregnant women and new moms?
For many women, low back pain can become an issue during pregnancy or after delivery. Throughout your pregnancy and after your bundle of joy has arrived, your body will go through an incredible transformation triggered by hormonal changes. At the same time, ligaments are becoming laxer, weight gain is happening and posture is shifting.
Second or subsequent pregnancies can put additional stress and strain on joints that already work hard - any mom who also has a toddler tugging on their arm while baby is kicking has certainly experienced this feeling!
All this change happening within the body - and the demands we put on it - can add to more mental and physical stress that often ends up as chronic lower back pain.
How can physiotherapy help post-partum low back pain?
Effective post-partum pain management can start during your pregnancy.
Your physiotherapist can design an exercise, reconditioning and training or treatment program to help relieve your lower back pain or other prenatal or post-partum symptoms such as urinary incontinence and pelvic pain. Your physiotherapist will assess your unique needs before recommending safe, effective exercises for both during your pregnancy and post-partum.
A physiotherapist will typically take the following steps to help you prepare for labour and delivery, and to treat postnatal back pain and other symptoms:
- Conduct a thorough evaluation to discover problems contributing to your pain or dysfunction
- Educate expectant mothers about pain and pain management, and address her fears, concerns and goals regarding labour to help calm any anxiety or stress
- Assess body posture, balance, physical strength and flexibility, along with any musculoskeletal issues that can affect pregnancy, labour or delivery
- Help patients perform exercises while making their safety the first priority
- Optimize birthing positions to make as much room as possible for the baby to come through the birth canal.
Post-Delivery Reconditioning
Physiotherapy, specifically physical therapy for back pain, can play an essential role in helping to alleviate pain after you've given birth. One important goal of post-delivery reconditioning is to safely and progressively help your body return to its pre-pregnancy and/or delivery function.
To achieve this, you and your physiotherapist can build an active core strengthening program designed to help you recover the strength you'll need to meet motherhood's many demands. this may include specific pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises for those experiencing back or pelvic dysfunction.
Alleviating pain and discomfort with proper posture, positioning an duse of pelvic supports or taping may also be recommended.
Other treatments may include:
- Acupuncture
- Massage Therapy
- Joint mobilization and stretching
- Heat
Because each body is different, each one will respond differently to pregnancy, stress and physiotherapy. We can help you navigate your unique pregnancy and the changes that accompany it, both pre-delivery and after baby's arrival.
Prenatal & Postpartum Physiotherapy at Nepean Sports Medicine & Physiotherapy Centre
Our registered physiotherapists at Nepean Sports Medicine & Physiotherapy Centre work with expectant and new moms to develop prenatal and postpartum physiotherapy programs custom designed for them.