Low back pain is a common problem during pregnancy, and travel physical therapy professionals can help provide a remedy with individualized treatment.
When a women becomes pregnant, the baby puts extended stress, pressure and weight on her back and abdomen. Typical weight gain ranges from 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. As the baby grows, a mother's center of gravity shifts forward. To avoid falling forward, many mothers might compensate by leaning back – but this can strain the muscles in the lower back and contribute to back pain during pregnancy.
Another factor that influences back pain for mothers-to-be includes different levels of hormone production that makes joints less stable. Anatomically, this allows the pelvis to spread as the baby gets bigger.
Travel therapy workers can develop individualized treatment programs for pregnant patients to help them maintain their function and decrease pain throughout gestation.
Good posture
The first basic tip to reduce pain is to maintain good posture. Remind your patient to stand up straight and tall, hold her chest high, keep her shoulders back and relaxed and avoid locking the knees.
When standing, it's helpful to assume a comfortably wide stance for the best support. If she has to be on her feet for long periods of time, instruct her to take time for frequent breaks.
Good posture not only deals with standing, but sitting as well. Make sure she finds a chair that supports her back, or have her place a small pillow behind her lower back. She might want to prop her feet up on a low stool, too.
The right footwear
Getting shoes with good arch support is essential. Patients may also be able to use an insert that adds this support, although larger or wider shoes might become a necessity as swelling may make a regular size uncomfortable. As a mother approaches the third trimester, it might be time to switch into slip-on shoes, since laces can become difficult to tie.
Lifting
Instruct your patients to avoid lifting heavy objects. However, when she's picking up a small object, be sure your pregnant patients squats down and lifts with her legs. Practice this by dropping a pen or piece of paper on the ground. It's important for her not to bend at the waist or lift with her back. Also, point out that she can always ask for help if she needs.
Adjust sleep positions
One of the main complaints during pregnancy is sleeping. Travel physical therapists can adjust a patient's sleep positions to ensure she gets adequate rest. First, have your patient sleep on her side, not her back, and make sure she keeps her knees bent. You might suggest using a pregnancy or support pillows between her bent knees, behind the back or under the abdomen.
New exercises
Regular physical activity can keep back muscles strong. Depending on the trimester of the patient, you might consider promoting walking, biking and water exercise. Both are gentle movements that can build muscle and help a mother stay active. These cardiovascular exercises are considered safe for most pregnant women and can be performed for 20 to 45 minutes, three to five days a week. Pregnant women should pay attention to their bodies and exercise at a mild to moderate level, not to the point of exhaustion.
Stretching is another great way to keep a mother's back flexible. To do this, have her rest on her hands and knees with her head in line with the back. She should pull in her stomach while rounding the back slightly. Hold for several seconds and then relax the stomach. Eventually work up to 10 repetitions.
All of these things will help pregnant patients reduce lower back pain and build strength, balance and flexibility.