I have been providing safe and effective care for pregnant women for many years as have many other chiropractors. When we think for just a minute about the health benefits we derive from adjustments at any age, it's not hard to understand why they can be SO valuable when another living being is developing inside your body. A compromised nervous system causes or allows errors and problems to arise. If there were ever a time to do everything in our power to prevent that, these nine months certainly qualify. The following article refers only to pain experienced during pregnancy, not the myriad of other health benefits produced by chiropractic care. Pain is certainly a motivator to seek chiro care, is unquestionably unpleasant, and can cause its own set of problems. For these reasons, I wanted to share the article. -Harris Meyer, DC
Pregnancy, Back Pain & Chiropractic By
Mark Studin DC, FASBE (C), DAAPM, DAAMLP
Back pain during pregnancy can be significant in terms of intensity and resulting disability. One study found that 35.5% of woman had at least moderate to severe back pain during 1 or more of their pregnancies. The pain scales of the pregnant woman (on the Owestry rating scale of 0-10, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable) ranged from 5.86 to 9.21. [1] One of the problems with patients not seeking care during pregnancy is this can become a long-term chronic condition and inherently more difficult to resolve. One such study of concluded a retrospective review of 179 pregnant woman in 5 clinics regarding back pain during pregnancy and labor found that 85% reported relief of their low back pain as a direct result of chiropractic care. In an unrelated study, 25% had complete remission of their back pain, 50% reported feeling very well and 15% were feeling better. Only 10% reported no changes.[2] The average pain scale prior to chiropractic care was 7.58 and post chiropractic care was 4.25 in one study. A second study revealed the average pain scale before chiropractic care 5.9 and post chiropractic care 1.5 out of 10 on the Owestry scale. This author, having practiced chiropractic for 30 years and cared for 100’s of pregnant patients during that time has had similar results in the clinical setting. The primary reason those pregnant patients to seek chiropractic care have been that it is a drugless approach and it works. Beyond that, pregnant patients need not spend 9 months in pain so they can enjoy an active pregnancy and get the exercise needed to have a healthy full-term labor and delivery. This study along with many others concludes that a drug-free approach of chiropractic care is one of the best solutions for pregnant patients with back pain.
[1]Kent J. Stuber DC, MSc, Dean L. Smith DC, PhD, Chiropractic Treatment of Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of the Evidence, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 31, Number 6, 2008
[2]Kent J. Stuber DC, MSc, Dean L. Smith DC, PhD, Chiropractic Treatment of Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of the Evidence, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 31, Number 6, 2008
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