We have already seen that back pain is one of the most common discomforts during pregnancy, although we can try to prevent it by practicing physical activity, exercise, good nutrition, taking care of posture ... Today we want to know why your back is likely to hurt during pregnancy.
Several factors typical of pregnancy and childbirth can facilitate the appearance of low back pain, although there are few studies that show which or which of these are the most relevant.
Relaxation of the abdominal muscles
Under normal conditions, the balance of abdominal and back muscle tension helps keep the muscles straight. During pregnancy, relaxation is necessary to allow the growth of the uterus in the most advanced stages of pregnancy, but if the abdominals were not very powerful before, it may appear very early. That's why it suits include the abs between the prepaid exercises.
In fact, also in the general population the lack of a powerful abdominal musculature is a factor that increases the risk of pain appearing or persisting longer.
The relaxation of the abdominal muscles causes the pregnant woman to arch back (in a hyperlordosis posture) and excessively use the back muscles to maintain her balance. It would be necessary to constantly correct the posture if it is to be kept in balance on its two hind legs.
These mechanisms make it easier for the lower back muscles to contract and pain appears.
Hyperlordosis
Hyperlordosis is due to the increase or increase in curvature of the spine, and depending on the area it can be cervical, dorsal or lumbar. During pregnancy, the load on the spine increases, mainly forcing the lower back muscles to make more effort than would be necessary, which facilitates their contracture and can trigger pain in that area or pain related to the leg.
In some cases, hyperlordosis can also overload the facet joints (those that connect the vertebrae to each other) and they can become damaged and cause a facet syndrome. This syndrome can also cause lower back pain and pain referred to the leg.
However, it is usually necessary to maintain the overload for a period of time much longer than the duration of a pregnancy so that the facet joint becomes affected, so pain can hardly appear due to this mechanism in the pregnancy if the joint was previously healthy.
Lack of power of the buttocks
Under normal conditions, the buttocks stabilize the pelvis and provide stable support to the lumbar spine. During pregnancy, with weight gain and modification in the posture of the spine, if the gluteal musculature is not powerful enough it may be unable to stabilize the sacroiliac joint, which fixes the spine to the pelvis, which causes pain in the lower lumbar area and the buttocks.
Sedentary lifestyle and rest
For gynecological reasons, some women should rest during pregnancy, and it is inevitable that the back suffers. Depending on the type of rest, the doctor may advise certain movements or stretches to try to minimize pain.
But sedentary lifestyle by habit, without justified medical reason, is very harmful and it is an important risk factor for back pain to appear and last longer, along with other discomforts.
Under normal conditions, the nerves detect the degree of muscle tension. This information serves to be constantly and automatically aware of the body's posture, which helps to maintain the postures in the most correct way and with the least muscular work.
Rest uninhabits the nerves that detect the degree of muscle tension and make the muscles adapt. On the contrary, its function is hindered, so it facilitates the unconscious adoption of incorrect postures and muscle overload.
There are also reflexes that coordinate the abdominal and back muscles to properly maintain the balance at rest and, even more so in motion. Training and activity keep these reflexes in good condition, but rest makes it difficult for the reflexes to function properly, and thus facilitates muscle overload.
Definitely, sedentary lifestyle and rest relatively quickly cause a loss of strength and muscle mass, and with it increases the likelihood that the musculature will be overloaded or injured.
Excessive weight gain
If we maintain a healthy diet and exercise during pregnancy, we will probably not notice the effects of weight gain until the fifth month of pregnancy. Take care of these aspects to not exceed 10 or 12 kilos of more It helps keep us fit and control back pain and other discomforts and risks in pregnancy.
It is especially from then on when the weight gain causes the lower back muscles to work harder and aggravates the tendency to their contracture triggered by abdominal relaxation, lordosis and rest, especially if before the pregnancy the musculature Abdominal and back were not powerful.
In addition, in pregnancy the weight gain is located in the anterior part of the body, which produces an overload in the front area of the intervertebral disc, which increases the pressure on the posterior wall of the disc, which is thinner than the previous . This facilitates that a fissure, protrusion or disc herniation can occur, which can cause low back pain and sciatica (pain radiating to the leg).
Increased uterine volume
The increased volume of the uterus and congestion of the pelvis can facilitate the compression of a nerve root and cause sciatica, so common in pregnancy. This discomfort is more frequent in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Childbirth
During delivery or immediately afterwards, it is very common to suffer pain in the lower back. We will soon return to back pain in this situation, which can be motivated by various mechanisms related to the effort when giving birth.
It is very important to have good postural hygiene habits to avoid, or at least minimize, the most frequent discomforts in pregnancy. If the future mother has to spend several hours a day sitting at work, it is worth remembering these postural tips.
A good diet and moderate exercise will help keep the pain at bay, although as we see your back is likely to hurt during pregnancy, is one of the most frequent inconveniences. If the discomfort prevents us from living a normal life, we must go to the gynecologist.
