During pregnancy, it is common for women to experience low back and pelvic pain due to the physical changes their body’s experience to accommodate the growing foetus. Up to 60% of pregnant women will have experienced low back or pelvic girdle pain by the end of third trimester.
Anatomy of the pelvic and lumbar spine
The Pelvis is joined at the front by the pubic symphysis and the sacroiliac joints at the back. It houses the pelvic organs, and serves as attachment points for muscles of the abdominal wall, gluteals and lower limb.
The lumbar spine (low back) consists of bones, discs, muscles and ligaments. The spinal cord and nerves are responsible for movement and sensation of the entire body. With multiple structures, pain can arise from multiple sources with common dysfunction include muscle train, irritation to neural structures and joint irritations.
Symptoms of low back and pelvic girdle pain include dull ache or sharp pain in the lower back, buttock, thighs or pelvic area including the pubic bone. Pain may radiate down into the hips, posterior thigh or legs. Finding the right physiotherapist to help you alleviate pain and find the source of the symptoms is important to keep you mobile through the rest of your pregnancy.
At Darwin Health Group we believe in empowering you to fully understand and manage your condition. Within your physiotherapy session we will use a variety of manual therapies such a mobilisations, muscle release, dry needling and support taping to manage each condition. We will set you up with appropriate stretches and exercises for you to do at home and progress you to your exercise goal during pregnancy.
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