Pregnancy can have a profound effect on a woman’s body. The body changes due to the added weight of a child; which can induce back pain, loose ligaments and a poor center of gravity. Chiropractic care and comfortable, supportive footwear can benefit women in all stages of maternity.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, “During pregnancy, a woman’s center of gravity almost immediately begins to shift forward to the front of her pelvis…. As the baby grows in size, the woman’s weight is projected even farther forward, and the curvature of her lower back is increased, placing extra stress on the spinal disks. In compensation, the normal curvature of the upper spine increases, as well.

During pregnancy, misalignment of the spine and pelvis are common changes that women may experience. This will put stress on the lower back and midsection. Chiropractic manipulation to these areas of the body can help reduce discomfort and prepare women for childbirth. For mothers that are wary about consuming temporary pain-relievers during pregnancy, chiropractic adjustments can provide a solution.

As the baby grows inside the mother’s belly, more weight is added to her body, meaning more pressure on her feet. As a result, the medial longitudinal arches will drop, making the feet look bigger. Dropped or flat arches can be detrimental for other parts of the body. The knees, low back, and spine can become misaligned, inducing stress to these parts of the body.

Aside from receiving routine adjustments, pregnant women with fallen arches can help relieve pain by wearing comfortable and supportive shoes. Tennis shoes with a high medial arch support that can absorb shock help alleviate pain for pregnant women.

High heels are not recommended for pregnant women, as the potential for injury can be heightened when their center of gravity is off balance. According to a BBC News Health article, “High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees. In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain – which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems and could increase the likelihood of falls.”

High heels and ill-fitted shoes add stress to the body and disrupt the normal gait pattern even for women who are not pregnant. These types of shoes should be worn in moderation to avoid injury. Having a pair of comfortable shoes handy to slip into can prevent a night out from ending early.

Ill fitted shoes can have a harmful effect on women’s feet. According to Larry Keller, “Nine times more women develop problems from improperly fitting shoes than men, and nine out of 10 women wear shoes too small for their feet.”  Shoes that are too small can be rough on pressure points in the feet, creating calluses or painful bunions. Tight shoes disturb the gait pattern and can have a formidable effect on joints throughout the body.

Properly fitted shoes should leave space (around ½ inch) for the toes to have wiggle room. Women should shop for shoes during the afternoon, as the feet naturally expand during the day. Above all, shoes should be comfortable and supportive.

A chiropractor’s systematic approach and expertise of spinal manipulations provide an option for pain relief. This is especially beneficial for pregnant women seeking pain relief without risking harm to their baby.

Routinely visiting a chiropractor and making simple lifestyle adjustments can help relive pain from pregnancy. It can also help alleviate stress from everyday life. This could be as simple as opting for more supportive footwear. On your next visit with your chiropractor, ask how you can make changes to start living a more stress-free life!

1 American Chiropractic Association. (2011). Chiropractic Advice for Moms-to-Be. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=85

2 BBC News Health. (2010). Stiletto warning for pregnant women. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10309086

3 Keller, Larry. (2011). How to Stop Tight Shoes From Hurting. http://www.ehow.com/how_7718116_stop-tight-shoes-hurting.html

According to the Canadian Chiropractic Association, many people sleep badly and suffer preventable spinal pain due to their beds being too hard or too soft for their body type. The caution for this Valentine’s Day is to pay attention to sleeping posture and ensure you have a suitable mattress and pillows to guarantee a night of uninterrupted bliss.

Sleeping on your back puts 55 lbs. of pressure on your spine. Lying on your side with a pillow between your knees reduces the disc pressure to 40 lbs. Putting a couple of pillows under your knees while lying on your back will take most of the pressure off your spine (only 25 lbs. of pressure). 

If a mattress is too hard it causes pressure points and reduced circulation, requiring the muscles to work harder to keep the spine straight. However, if a mattress is too soft, then the spine may sag out of alignment and again create tension leading to dysfunction and pain.

Ideally, a mattress should be firm, comfortable and supportive, but not too hard as has been recommended by some specialists in the past. The line of your spine should be straight when lying on your side, and a natural curve maintained when sleeping on your back.

Chiropractors frequently notice that a variety of spine-related disorders become recurrent and chronic due to adverse stress from a bad bed. When you spend one-third your life in bed, it is important to choose the best possible mattress we can afford and look after it well!

One of the main reasons mattresses cause back trouble is that they are not replaced regularly enough. Manufacturers and chiropractors recommend changing a mattress approximately every 10 to 13 years, depending on how it is cared for. The following tips are recommended for maintaining the life of a mattress:

• Never fold or bend the mattress
• Rotate the mattress by turning it end to end every three months
• When cleaning use a vacuum cleaner, and do not wet the mattress
• When choosing a new mattress, lie on it as many different ways as possible in the store.

Some signs that the mattress may need replacing include annoying peaks, dips or lumps or waking up stiff and sore after sleeping on the mattress.

It is recorded that 80% of people suffer back pain at some stage of their lives, and because every body is different, it is important to choose a bed with the right support and comfort for the individual.

Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be a pain in the back!