Exercises Can Help Back and Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy
Pregnant women experiencing back pain may find some relief through exercise. 
In fact, physical exercises before and during pregnancy can be effective in preventing and reducing low back and pelvic pain, according to a news release from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect a woman’s muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints that make up the musculoskeletal system.
According to a new literature review in the September issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, these hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause many joints to flex beyond normal limits due to ligament laxity, weight gain, and a shift in the body’s center of gravity.
Indeed, the impact on the spine can accentuate low back curvature and thrust and tilt the pelvis forward, causing pain.
Low back pain is a common medical condition associated with pregnancy; nearly half of pregnant women experience it. As ligaments which connect bones to each other stretch and the uterus expands as the baby grows, they put excessive stress on the spine and pelvis.
This can lead to low back pain, pelvic girdle pain, or both, said study author Zbigniew Gugala, MD, PhD, in a news release.
“Low back/pelvic girdle pain is especially common in pregnant women who are older, overweight, or have a history of back pain during a previous pregnancy,” Gugala said. “Women who already have joint hypermobility or are bearing more than one child at a time are also at higher risk.”
However, so far, the correlation between lumbopelvic pain and maternal weight gain during pregnancy or birth height or weight of the newborn has not been established. While pain typically begins at the 18th week of pregnancy and ends between the 24th and 36th weeks of pregnancy, many women, continue to have back pain after delivery.
“About half of women with low back pain during pregnancy continue to experience pain after delivery, sometimes for up to a year,” Gugala said. Pain management during pregnancy is usually focused on conservative treatments.
“Physical exercises before and during pregnancy can be effective in preventing or reducing low back and pelvic pain. But before beginning any exercise regimen, the expectant mother should check with her doctor,” Gugala said.
To help reduce the risk of low back pain and pelvic girdle pains during pregnancy, women should ask their doctor about correct posture, relaxation techniques and how to avoid sudden movements that could lead to extreme joint stretching in the spine and pelvis.
Exercise can also be helpful. Pregnant women should remain active by continuing normal daily activities and work, if possible. Daily routines should incorporate supervised flexibility, stretching, and muscle-strengthening exercises.
Source: AAOS news release
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