Pregnancy Pain

If you’re pregnant and in pain, you don’t need to suffer alone! Come and see us for help, guidance and reassurance as soon as you start feeling any pregnancy niggles. Often, the simplest changes can help – a few exercises and even some postural changes can make a huge difference to your comfort and how you feel during your pregnancy.

At The Back and Body Clinic, we strongly believe that, where possible, prevention is better than cure, which is why, when it comes to pregnancy and possible pains, it’s a great idea to come for an early assessment, that may help prevent painful problems such as pelvic girdle pain, sacroiliac or symphysis pubis (SPD).

Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)

Your body undergoes many changes during pregnancy and continues to change post-natally. It is important to address any issues that occur at this time so as to prevent problems later in life.

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a common complaint during or after pregnancy affecting up to one in four pregnant women. Symptoms of PGP include pain at the front and/or the back of the pelvis. Pain is most commonly felt whilst walking, climbing stairs and turning over in bed. The pain can affect many daily activities, impacting greatly on your lifestyle.

PGP can occur at any stage of your pregnancy, coming on gradually or suddenly. PGP is caused by asymmetry of the pelvic joints. Usually in PGP the pelvic joints, which should work together in a ring system, are not working normally. Often one joint becomes stiff causing strain and irritation in the other joints or there is muscle imbalance across the pelvis from muscle weakness or tightness. Traditionally, it was thought that all PGP was caused by increasing hormone levels and changing posture during the pregnancy. Women, historically have been told to accept pain as part of a normal pregnancy. However, this should not be the case. The asymmetry that is causing the PGP is a bio-mechanical problem therefore it can be treated with manual therapy, stretches, muscle strengthening and postural correction.

Prompt treatment can prevent the condition from worsening and leads to a shorter overall recovery time. PGP can be treated during your pregnancy to reduce your pain and improve your function and mobility.