Understand the causes and potential treatments for managing severe back pain during pregnancy.

Even though back pain during pregnancy is common, it is never normal. Many times, patients are told that pregnancy aches and pains are “par for the course” without given much direction on how to relieve sever back pain during pregnancy. There are many things that can be done to relieve severe back pain during pregnancy, with the most important being pelvic floor physical therapy.

Pelvic floor physical therapists are specialty trained physical therapists that have a deeper understanding of the core and muscles that sit in and around the pelvis. Pelvic floor therapists that further specialize in pregnancy and postpartum rehab are the best professionals to see if you are looking for ways to relieve severe back pain during pregnancy.

How to relieve severe back pain during pregnancy? What are the best treatment options available to relieve severe back pain during pregnancy? 

In pelvic floor physical therapy, your pelvic floor physical therapist will first figure out exactly what is causing your back pain in particular. Many times it is because of the added pressure through the pelvic floor and weakness that forms through the core. Therefore a big part of how to relieve severe back pain during pregnancy includes taking a deep look at how the pelvic floor and core are functioning. Many times, as pelvic floor physical therapists, we have to work with our patients on exercises to improve core and pelvic floor strength AND flexibility.

Since the pelvic floor muscles attach directly to the lowest portion of our spine, problems with the pelvic floor muscles (usually excess tightness) can be the reason you may have severe back pain during pregnancy. 

Besides addressing how the core and pelvic floor are functioning, pelvic floor therapists will also dive into how your pregnancy postures and movements affect the reason you may be having symptoms. Many times, patients with severe back pain during pregnancy will require assistance with adjusting their postures and movements to help take pressure off the back. This includes looking at how you are lifting, squatting, bending, and performing tasks around your home.

You may also need direct manual treatment including massage, joint mobilization, fascial mobilization and other hands on techniques to help control inflammation and improve mobility throughout the lower back and hips. Pelvic floor physical therapists can help figure out which hands on technique or combination of techniques might be helpful to relieve severe back pain during pregnancy.

It is important that you seek treatment if you are having severe back pain during pregnancy, as research shows that the pain isn’t guaranteed to go away even once you have the baby. This is because pain brings compensations and varied movement patterns, which don’t improve once you have the baby- in fact, they can get worse!

If you are looking for how to relieve severe back pain during pregnancy, don’t hesitate. It is very important that you seek help from a pelvic floor physical therapist. We can help you get started with a program today and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. For more information, click here.