April 2024 Healthy News from Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 joy out of pregnancy for some. Just ask anyone who’s been pregnant! Care without drugs is desirable for these patients. Chiropractic treatment with spinal manipulation is one such evidence-based treatment option. (1) In a study that did not track what type of care (if any) they received for their back pain, researchers discovered that the likelihood of the pain restricting self-grooming and work activities was doubled for those who experienced a combination of musculoskeletal pain issues versus just low back pain throughout 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 had a mix of PGP and LBP had a 13-times greater likelihood. At 6 months postpartum, 16% had lingering 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 suffered with 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 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 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 restore some pain free joy of the pregnancy.
La Grande HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH: Exercise for (Pregnancy-Related and All) Back Pain
Exercise certainly helps anyone with back pain and even those who have back pain during pregnancy. 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 didn’t 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 when lifting, and were less limited in their social lives due to pain. (5) A review of the outcomes of 16 randomized clinical trials found that women who performed physical activity throughout their pregnancy experienced less pain intensity, had decreases noted in their disability questionnaires, and noted less general pain overall. (6) What exercises work? A simple series of exercises centering on abdominal tightness, pelvic tilting, and foot and ankle movements were found to be statistically significant in reducing 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.
Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is pleased to be your La Grande chiropractor and values your sharing your chiropractic care with family and friends, especially the pregnant ones this month! See you soon!