Pregnancy Related Musculoskeletal Pain

Pregnancy Related Musculoskeletal Pain

Pregnancy induces biomechanical, hormonal, and vascular changes, which can increase the risk of musculoskeletal problems. As your baby grows, the additional weight places mechanical stress on the back, hips, and pelvis. Hormonal changes also cause the surrounding ligaments and muscles to loosen and relax, further stressing the joints. Moreover, fluid retention compresses soft tissue structures. Consequently, musculoskeletal pain is very common during pregnancy.

Musculoskeletal problems significantly contribute to disability and loss of work among pregnant women. While these issues are prevalent, they should not be accepted as an inevitable side effect of pregnancy. Physiotherapy can often effectively treat and resolve pregnancy-related pain. For instance, untreated pelvic pain related to pregnancy can persist for up to two years. It is therefore strongly recommended to seek advice from a specialized physiotherapist.

Common Pregnancy-Related Conditions

• Low Back Pain
• Pelvic Girdle Pain: A term encompassing pain in the lumbo-sacral, sacro-iliac, and symphysis pubis joints.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Manifesting as pain, pins and needles, and numbness in the wrists and hands.
• De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: Pain at the base of the thumbs.
• Neck Pain and Stiffness
• Thoracic Pain and Stiffness
• Shooting Pain, Pins and Needles, and Numbness in Arms or Legs

How we treat

Following your initial assessment, your physiotherapist will recommend treatments best suited to your condition. Common methods used in treatment include:

• Manual Therapy
• Supervised and Home-Based Safe Exercise Plan
• Pilates exercises
• Vibration Therapy: Can be used to relax or stimulate muscles, improve vascularization, and alleviate nerve pain.
• Taping: To support and offload joints.
• Advice: On managing symptoms and preventing further injury.