Chiropractic Treatments Offer Back Pain Relief in Pregnancy

Many pregnant women – more than half, according to one study – experience lower back pain at some point during their pregnancy. In fact, pregnancy is often the first time women have experienced chronic back pain. Thankfully, chiropractic care has been found to be beneficial and safe for pregnant women with  back pain. Salem chiropractor Dr. Geary Michels uses low-force chiropractic adjustments, exercise rehabilitation, and soft tissue therapy to ease back pain in pregnant patients.

Research supports the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments for pregnant women. A recent study involved 17 pregnant women experiencing lower back pain. Their pain was rated an average of 5.9 on a 10-point scale, and persisted an average of 21.7 days, beginning 20.6 weeks into the pregnancy.

Each study participant underwent chiropractic care designed to treat their individual symptoms. According to the study authors,

• Half of the women were referred for chiropractic care by their obstetrician, while the other half sought treatment on their own.


• The women reported clinically-significant pain relief in an average of 4.5 days. Some participants experienced pain relief immediately following the first treatment session; all but one experienced pain relief within 13 days.


• Clinically significant pain relief was reached in an average of 1.8 treatment sessions.


• At the start of the study, the participants reported an average pain level of 5.9. This decreased to 1.5 by the end of the study.


• Over the course of the study, patients received 3 to 15 treatments, averaging 5.6.


• No participants reported adverse reactions during or following the chiropractic treatment.



 
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During pregnancy, lower back pain can have a significant negative impact on overall health. According to the study authors,  “In most instances, the average pain level is moderate, but severe pain has been reported in 15% of cases. Pain intensity often increases with duration and can result in significant disability. Sleep disturbances have been reported by 49% to 58% of women and impaired daily living by 57% in women with low back pain of pregnancy.”

Despite the significant effects of this pain, many pregnant women do not mention back pain to their doctor. As a result, it goes untreated. A previous study found that less than a third of pregnant women reported lower back pain to their doctor. Of these, just 25% received a treatment plan. According to another study, “among women with low back pain of pregnancy, 80% thought that their providers had not offered treatment for their back pain.”

If you are pregnant and are experiencing back pain, in Salem, OR, know that you don't have to suffer through this. Research has shown chiropractic care to be a safe and effective way of treating back pain during pregnancy. Contact Salem chiropractor Dr. Geary Michels of Michels Spinal Rehab & Associates to seek relief from your back pain and begin enjoying your pregnancy today.



Reference

Lisi AJ. Chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain of pregnancy: a retrospective case series. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2006;51:e7-e10.