Low back pain (LBP) and posterior pelvic pain (PPP) are common complaints during pregnancy. Current estimates show that 2/3rds of expectant mothers will experience back pain during pregnancy. One in five pregnant women will report pelvic pain. LBP/PPP can have a significant impact on a woman’s quality of life and her ability to carry out everyday tasks.

Sometimes, pain conditions associated with pregnancy may be related to changes in certain hormones. There’s evidence that shows as the fetus grows, the center of gravity shifts forward in a woman’s body. This shift greatly affects the biomechanics of the woman’s body. Strain is added to the lumbar and sacroiliac joints, giving rise to pain in those areas.

Chiropractic Study for LBP/PPP

In 2014, a landmark study looked at the effect of chiropractic treatment on 115 pregnant women with LBP/PPP. In the study, 52% improved with respect to pain and disability after a week of care. 70% of women showed improvement after one month, 85% after three months, and 90% after six months.

Those who had LBP/PPP prior to pregnancy tended to have higher pain scores at the conclusion of the study than those without a previous history of LBP/PPP. This finding supports the theory that women with a history of LBP prior to pregnancy are good candidates for chiropractic care early during pregnancy. Due to a common link between persistent LBP pre- and post-pregnancy LBP, chiropractic care post-partum may be equally important.

This study includes many chiropractors in various locations. Treatment isn’t standard to any one specific method or technique. With that being said, high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulative therapy is the most common approach and is the “standard of care” utilized by most chiropractors around the world. While further research is conducted, it’s clear that the use of SMT during pregnancy will become “the norm”.