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Relieving
Back Pain during Pregnancy
Ah, the indescribable joys of pregnancy.
The anticipation of new
life, the intimate, developing bond between
mother and child ...
and the back pain. More than 50% of women
experience back pain
during pregnancy, especially in the third
trimester, and frequently
the pain can be excruciating and debilitating.
A Swedish study involving 258 pregnant
women investigated whether
water gymnastics could reduce the intensity
of back pain and the
number of days taken for sick leave. Women
were divided equally
into two groups: an exercise group that
participated in water
gymnastics (one hour of relaxation exercises,
performed in a
swimming pool and accompanied by music)
during the second half of
their pregnancy; and a control group that
did not participate in
water gymnastics.
Although back pain intensity increased
during the course of
pregnancy for both groups, the exercise
group reported less pain
compared with the control group. The total
number of reported days
on sick leave was also lower in the exercise
group (982 days taken)
compared with controls (1,484 days taken).
Many of the joys and frustrations of
parenthood will last much
longer than nine months, so prepare yourself.
But back pain's one
frustration that doesn't have to last.
If you're expecting a child
and are experiencing back pain, talk to
your doctor of chiropractic
about making your pregnancy as pain free
as possible.
Kihlstrand M, Stenman B, Nilsson S, et
al. Water gymnastics reduced
the intensity of back/low back pain in pregnant
women. Acta
Obstetrics Et Gynecologica Scandinavia,
March 1999: Vol. 78, No. 3,
pp180-85.
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