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Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy

Question:

I am pregnant with my first child and am experiencing pain and discomfort in my lower back. Is there anything I can do to alleviate the pain? Can a physical therapist help me?

Answer: By Jill Boissonnault, PT, PhD

YES! Pain that interferes with normal daily activities or sleep warrants care by a physical therapist. As experts in mobility and motion, physical therapists know the musculoskeletal system ― the muscles, joints and the surrounding soft tissues of the body. Your physical therapist will begin by examining your back and pelvic joints. A treatment program, designed to address your individual needs, may include joint and soft tissue mobilization, exercise, bracing (if needed), and body mechanics techniques. Other conditions that may warrant physical therapist care are pelvic joint pain (sacraliliac or pubic pain), upper back and neck pain; headaches; musculoskeletal issues related to prolonged bed rest (if your physician recommends bed rest); diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles), and coccydynia (tailbone pain). Physical therapists strive to empower patients and to partner in their care. In most states, you can make an appointment with a physical therapist directly, without a physician referral.

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Learn more about Back issues

Physical therapists, who are experts in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives, play an important role not only in treating persistent or recurrent low back pain, but also in prevention and risk reduction. Physical therapists are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility – in [...]

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Biographical Information

Physical therapist and American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) member Jill S. Boissonnault, PT, PhD, is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Physical Therapy Program where she teaches seminars in professional issues, service learning, and palpatory anatomy, and coordinates a research practicum. She offers seminars in ethics to meet licensure requirements on behalf of the program, consults in the area of women’s health physical therapy, and teaches CE seminars on musculoskeletal management of the OB client. Dr Boissonnault is immediate past president and founder of the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Women’s Health, a sub-group of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Illinois, her master’s in orthopedic physical therapy from Northwestern University, and her PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in curriculum and instruction with a minor in women’s studies. She’s held various leadership positions within APTA, including treasurer of the OB/GYN Section (now the Section on Women’s Health) from 1983-1989, vice president 1995-1999, and education director 2005-2006. In 2000, Dr Boissonnault was awarded the Elizabeth Noble Award, and in 2006, the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association Mentor of the Year Award and APTA’s Lucy Blair Service Award. She has authored numerous professional articles and textbook chapters and practices in the area of women’s health.