75% of pregnant women report back pain during pregnancy according to a recent Swedish study.

In 60% the onset started during the pregnancy. Approximately 15% of these women continued to have back problems after delivering their infants. Medically, back pain in pregnancy is all too often considered inconsequential despite its extraordinary prevalence and sometimes disabling intensity.

We often find that a combination of gentle soft tissue massage techniques, mobilisation, simple exercise program, postural awareness methods and self-help tips at home including patient education pamphlets help women manage back pain during pregnancy

There are a number of advantages in adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle practices in order to maintain wellness of both the mother baby.

EXERCISE: Fitter mums handle pregnancy much better both physically and psychologically not to mention childbirth. Moderate exercise 3 - 4 times per week and adequate rest is beneficial. Ask your clinic practitioner about specific exercise guidelines.

POSTURE: Pregnant women strain their back/hips/necks much more readily due to the presence of the pregnancy hormone relaxin. Postural awareness helps to avoid this.

HEALTHY DIET: Maintain a healthy diet including adequate amounts of protein, calcium rich foods, fresh vegetables (especially folate/green leafy ones), fruits and water. Having an excellent diet during pregnancy is so important that a lack of certain nutrients (eg. folate) has been associated with birth defects such as spina bifida. For this reason alcohol and cigarettes should also be eliminated.

Sixty percent of women experience back pain during pregnancy not to mention headaches, cramps, restless legs and sleeplessness.

MASSAGE THERAPY TREATMENT: as performed by either chiropractors, osteopaths or physiotherapists in this centre together with an exercise program and various other treatments can be effective for the above - discuss with one of our clinic practitioners.

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