Pregnancy and Back Pain
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Pregnancy and back pain go hand in hand – up to 50% of pregnant women will develop back or sacroiliac joint pain.
Initially its worth trying to avoid activities which may cause the problem in the first place. This section on prevention of back pain during pregnancy offers some suggestions.
It is very common for preganant women to develop problems with the sacroiliac joint. This .is caused by a disruption of the sacroiliac joint due to the hormonal and mechanical changes associated with pregnancy. Read more about the sacroiliac joint and the changes that occur during pregnancy in this back pain in early pregnancy section.
Sacroiliac joint pain is made worse with activities that involve using one leg. (This may seem odd but single leg or unilateral activities stress the joint). Examples of this include getting in and out of the car and climbing stairs etc.
Tips to avoid getting sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
- Sit down to put tights or trousers on, don’t hop about on one leg.
- Get into the car by sitting on the edge of the seat , keep your knees together and then swing them into the car.
- When getting out of bed, roll onto your side with your knees pressed together and push up on one arm. Swing your legs out of the bed together. Reverse this to get back into bed.
- Climbing stairs may hurt – you may need to climb them one step at a time and use a rail.
- Getting in and out of the bath needs to be done with care, step into the bath and then lower yourself down – don’t try and do it in one movement.
- You may find a brace or support helpful.
Lower Back Pain Toolkit Home Page
Causes of Back Pain in Pregnancy
Prevention of Back Pain during Pregnancy
Treatment of Lower Back Pain during Pregnancy
