The Bio-mechanics of Pregnancy 

The pregnancy process, understandably, comes with a lot of changes and stressors on the mothers body. As the little bubba grows from the size of a pea, to the size of a grape and so on, the mother’s body has to adapt and change to suit. ‘Bio-mechanics’ refers to how the musculoskeletal system (skeleton, muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs etc) functions. Pregnancy causes bio-mechanical alterations that can create imbalances, and may end up causing symptomatic issues.

Some of the key changes we see in practice are:

1. Anterior Pelvic Tilt

As baby grows, the mum's pelvis (hips and tailbone) will start to shift forward (anteriorly). This helps make room for the baby within the uterus, but can also create strain and imbalance on soft tissues and joints. The sacroiliac joints (between the tailbone and hips on either side) are placed under stress, which can be intensified with long periods of walking or standing. There is also tightening of the hip flexor muscles as they are overworked, and weakening of the glute muscles as they are under-worked. The pubic symphysis (joint at the front of the pelvis) can also come under more stress when the pelvis is tilted anteriorly. Common symptoms associated with this change are low back pain, stiffness, sciatica and reduction in motion.

2. Increased Lumbar Lordosis

The lordotic curve is the natural curve the lumbar spine (lower back) should have when viewed from the side. When the pelvis tilts anteriorly, the body makes compensations to stop the entire body from falling forwards. Increasing the curve in the low back heaps this, but it does place extra stress on the lumbar spinal joints and the lower back muscles. This can cause tightness, tension and pain. Approximately 50% of pregnant women experience lower back or pelvic pain during pregnancy.

3. Upper Back Tension

As the lower half of women's torsos start to change in pregnancy, it can start to affect the upper half as well. As the baby grows, women’s bodies will naturally compensate for the changes in their posture. As the tummy grows outwards and they start to lean back slightly to compensate, that can create tension and stiffness in their upper back muscles, which can also impact the neck.

4. Neck tightness

The whole spinal system is interconnected, so naturally the cervical spine (neck) can be affected as well. The head, which is relatively heavy, pulls forward to balance out the weight changes further down. This can pull and tighten the posterior neck muscles, causing tension through the neck and shoulders. It may even contribute to headaches. These are only a few of the structural changes that can occur, and doesn’t take into account all of the other adaptations the body has to make during pregnancy (hormone fluctuations, mood, gestational diabetes, blood pressure etc). It makes sense to give the body a little more support during this time, and ensure the spine and nerve system is functioning optimally! Regular chiropractic care during pregnancy can aid in restoring balance and reducing symptoms. Get in touch with us to discuss how we cater our care plans to suit the progression of pregnancy and the changes it brings.