Pregnancy is one of the most crucial and demanding phases in a woman’s life. The feeling of a life growing inside you, added with the responsibility of taking good care of it and yourself can be anxiety-provoking.
Especially, the phase of pregnancy demands a lot from the woman’s body. And with each month, the pressure on the body, especially the back region can increase significantly. Recent studies suggest that almost 50% of pregnant women suffer from lower back pain at some point during their pregnancy. Hence, it is important for one to take proper care of their physical health. The best health management in such a situation can be physiotherapy.
Let’s discuss how physiotherapy at home can be a great relief for pregnant women.
What are the symptoms of pregnancy-related low back pain?
There are the common symptoms of lower back pain that indicate the need for a home visit physiotherapy:
- It’s difficult to lift and carry heavy objects.
- Certain movements, such as prolonged standing and twisting, produce pain.
- It’s difficult to climb and descend the stairs.
- Incapable of performing certain basic daily tasks such as washing and dressing, entering and exiting a vehicle, and performing housekeeping.
- Localized stiffness of the joints
- Tightness of the muscles in the lower back area
Reasons for low back pain during pregnancy
When you carry a budding human being inside you, your muscles and joints carry the weight on you and your little baby. Hence, the body takes up the responsibility of carrying more overall weight than usual.
Here are some of the reasons why low back pain occurs frequently during pregnancy:
- Increase in the baby’s weight
- Muscles, ligaments, and joints are all subjected to increased stress.
- Reduced activity levels
How can a physiotherapist help during pregnancy?
A physiotherapist can assess your physical well-being and identify any musculoskeletal or neuromuscular problems that may be worse by pregnancy. Any concern that arises is recognised by the physiotherapist, and preventative actions are prescribed. After an inspection, leg exercises to prevent varicose veins might be given, and abdominal contractions are practised in a variety of scenarios. Physiotherapists teach pregnant women how to recognise and manage stress. Relaxing techniques, such as breathing awareness, can help alleviate discomfort during labour.
Usually, pregnant women are advised to have physio home visits more than a couple of times a month.
Some of the usual recommendations:
- Postural correction exercises are performed to ensure structural integrity and that the muscles and the spine work in proper coordination to avoid pain.
- Physio home visits also include lifting advice and training. This includes using a proper technique, pace and amount of weight to ensure that the mother and baby are pain-free and safe.
Pregnancy is a life-changing experience and we at Medulance would love to be a part of your experience anytime you need us. You can book our ambulance through the Medulance app (or our customer care service). With Medulance , you get GPS-enabled technology that allows you to track nearest ambulances and establish direct contact with your ambulance driver.