| The decisions of picking a name… The | | | | this problem, let me first explain in more |
| anticipation and excitement… Painting | | | | detail what a muscle imbalance is and how it |
| the new room… Clothing, diapers and | | | | causes back pain and sciatica… |
| family celebrations. The joy of a pregnancy | | | | |
| is one of life's greatest pleasures. | | | | In a nutshell, muscle imbalances work like |
| Unfortunately however, for many women the | | | | this. Muscles work together with opposing |
| later months of pregnancy can prove to be | | | | muscles to allow movement at joints. One |
| quite challenging. One common problem many | | | | muscle stretches while the other shortens. |
| women face is lower back pain. | | | | Each side should be of equal tone and |
| | | | strength. When a pregnant woman walks, moves, |
| Lower back pain can be a horrible | | | | bends, twists or sleeps she will typically do |
| interruption in day-to-day activities for a | | | | so in an unbalanced and awkward manner to |
| pregnant woman. More importantly, it | | | | accommodate for her increased weight. In |
| interferes with their quality of life, not to | | | | addition, various everyday activities and |
| mention the enjoyment of one of the most | | | | positions we put our body in create |
| memorable times of their life. | | | | imbalances in the muscle groups and during |
| | | | pregnancy it only worsens… |
| The obvious cause of lower back pain is the | | | | |
| biomechanical stress being placed on the | | | | Muscle imbalances then pull the pelvis and |
| mother by the added weight of baby. As the | | | | low back out of alignment and this places |
| baby gains weight the mother is pulled | | | | uneven and excessive stress on the muscles, |
| forward. In order to compensate for this | | | | bones and joints. |
| forward pull, the mother has to lean her | | | | |
| upper body backward. This puts a tremendous | | | | The spine is comprised of 24 moveable bones |
| amount of pressure on the low back and | | | | with a shock-absorbing disc in between each |
| pelvis. | | | | bone. This spinal column rests on three large |
| | | | bones called the pelvic girdle. When this |
| This explanation of low back pain sounds | | | | spinal column is in proper alignment it will |
| complete. It is a true explanation but is | | | | carry a majority of the weight and stress |
| only a small part the problem. The "hidden" | | | | being placed on the body. When one or more of |
| cause of lower back pain is actually muscle | | | | these 24 bones misaligns, especially the |
| imbalances. In fact muscle imbalances are a | | | | pelvis, the muscles work overtime so to |
| common cause of lower back pain in pregnancy | | | | speak. They now have to carry the weight that |
| but it is also responsible for back pain in a | | | | the spinal column is supposed to handle. At |
| majority of the population. | | | | this point the muscles are unbalanced and are |
| | | | very prone to an injury. Lower back pain is |
| The strength and tone of the muscular system | | | | the most common expression of this problem. |
| is an extremely important factor when | | | | |
| assessing a patient with lower back pain. | | | | If the above scenario takes place then the |
| Unfortunately, muscle imbalances are not | | | | stage has been set for lower back pain and |
| addressed properly by most health | | | | dysfunction. Not only does the soon to be Mom |
| practitioners… but just because they | | | | have to deal with safely carrying the baby, |
| are not trained in identifying and addressing | | | | she has to now do it with a painful lower |
| muscle imbalances, it doesn't mean you have | | | | back. Let's face it, the soon to be Mom is |
| to continue to suffer… | | | | going to be in pain and she is not going to |
| | | | enjoy her most cherished time in life. |
| But before I share with you the solution to | | | | |