Exercise and Acupuncture Relieve Women of Pregnancy-related Pains

Filed in archive Cases , Studies , Treatment on May 7, 2007

While women usually beautifully glow during pregnancy, the back and pelvic pains really suck it would make them grimace (however beautiful they feel!). I guess any woman who has been pregnant at least once in her life would agree with me.

My pregnancy had been more than four years ago but the toll on my back brought about by my pregnancy as I go along with my daily activities like going to work, doing house chores, carrying grocery bags, or just simply walking or sleeping - I remember it all like it was only yesterday.

The back and pelvic pains worsens as pregnancy progresses to full term. If I would only think about that heavy feeling and the back pains, I wouldn't want to get pregnant ever again. But then again, pregnancy has its perks, like holding your baby for the first time after giving birth. But that is another story...

Going back to pregnancy-related pelvic and back pains, according to an updated review, stretching exercises, special pillows and acupuncture could help relieve women of back and pelvic pains during pregnancy.

...women who participated in prenatal exercise programs reported significant decreases in back pain compared to women who received the usual prenatal care.

...a special pillow called the Ozzlo pillow, a curved, soft cushion designed to support the pregnant abdomen when lying down, reduced back pain.

...60 percent who received acupuncture reported less intense pain, compared to 14 percent of women who did not. The study found no complications associated with the use of acupuncture in pregnant women.

The said review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration.

Find more details from the full report.