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Pregnancy Can Cause Unwanted Low Back And Leg Pain…

For most women pregnancy and back pain go hand-in-hand. However, thanks to the advances in chiropractic women do not have to suffer with low back or leg pain. Dr. Paris discusses this condition, as well as the need for proper spinal alignment during pregnancy and positive outcome spinal adjustments can produce during labor.
Brian R Paris, DC

Is low back or leg pain taking away from your pregnancy experience?  If so, chiropractic is a great natural, drugless approach to help alleviate your pain. You may ask, should I have chiropractic care during pregnancy?  The answer is yes. Chiropractic care can help you and your baby achieve a healthier pregnancy and delivery.  It is gentle and safe, whose health benefits have been demonstrated in numerous clinical studies.

 

A study conducted by Irvin Hendryson, MD, member of the American Medical Association board of trustees, indicated that women who received chiropractic adjustments in their third trimester of pregnancy were able to carry and deliver children with more comfort. Additionally, orthopedist Per Freitag, MD, conducted a hospital study that incorporated chiropractic adjustments during the patient’s pregnancy.  He found that the need for pain killers during delivery was reduced in half. [1]

 

The vertebrae (bones in your back) fit together so that the information produced in your brain may filter down your spinal cord and out over your nerves. This information is responsible for growth, repair, and healing in your entire body. When your spine is out of its natural alignment, nerves become stretched or twisted, and this vital communication system in the body is disrupted. 

 

The Doctor of Chiropractic specializes in the detection and correction of these spinal misalignments.  Instead of treating the symptoms of the disease, the chiropractor corrects the misalignment so that the normal body functions may take place. This process may take weeks or months, depending on the amount of misalignment and previous damage.  Normal function may then be restored throughout the body, and healing can take place.  As your body heals, the symptoms begin to diminish.

 

Women have special needs during pregnancy. During pregnancy many physiological and endocrinological (hormonal) changes take place, all for the purpose of creating an optimal environment for the developing baby.[2] This complex process involves every system of the pregnant woman’s body.  The musculoskeletal system is affected by the protruding abdomen, duck-like walk, and increased lower back curve. Center of gravity is displaced and these posture changes put more strain on the lower back and pelvis, which may result in lower back or leg pain.  Fifty percent (50%) of all women complain of low back pain during pregnancy.

 

When should you be checked for spinal misalignment?  The best time for a spinal and posture check up is before you would like to become pregnant.  This will ensure proper pelvic and spinal misalignment.  If you are already pregnant, chiropractic adjustments can be given throughout your pregnancy and directly after your labor and delivery.  Let your pregnancy and delivery occur without or with less pain-discover the health benefits of Chiropractic.

 

Dr. Paris is the director of the Advanced Spine & Wellness Center in King Farm.  For questions about chiropractic and pregnancy and a free copy of our newsletter please call (240) 361-2225.  Also for a free report on low back pain call toll free 24-hrs (800) 827-0138.

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[1] Freitag, Per: Expert testimony of Pertag, M.D., Ph.D., comparing the results of two neighboring hospitals, U.S. District Court Northern Illinois Eastern Division, No.76C3777, May 1987.

[2] Greenhill, J.P.: Obstetrics, ed. 13, Philadelphia:W.B. Saunders, 1965;p.183.

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