I have come across a number of women over the last few weeks who are experiencing varying degrees of pack pain and discomfort. Back pain is a very common symptom with more than 80% of the population experiencing in their lifetime, it can cause a range of issues across the rest of your system from tightness, decreased range of motion and pain. Too often we try to treat the area of pain and not take a full approach to the kinetic chain that is your body.

Pregnancy & Back Pain

It’s no wonder that I see a lot of clients with back issues, pregnancy can cause all sorts of movement and changes through the abdominal region and changing pressures through the core – before we even mention the additional weight of your growing baby or the soften of the joints ready for labour. Postnatally women will spend the majority of their time holding and rocking a baby. Cradling, feeding, bathing and carrying. If I asked a client to go about their daily tasks with an 8kg kettlebell attached to them I don’t think they would be very keen! However how many mums do I see lugging that car seat into a class!

Also consider if you have had any surgery, especially in the abdominal region. Maybe you have pelvic floor weakness, diastasis recti or sore hips. Have you thought about your posture, how you lift and carry, how you sit, stand or exercise. Even your footwear, clothing or the height of the handle on your pushchair will impact how the spine is working during your day.
Educating clients around these areas are key to the success of reducing back pain and allowing it to function as it was intended. Prevention of future injury and management of current conditions are vitally important, we want you to remain as active and mobile as possible.

What are the key factors that could cause back pain?

• Age, unfortunately post 30 years the quality of our musculoskeletal system starts to reduce, and we are more prone to injury.
• Mis alignment and poor posture – if bones or muscles are in the incorrect place then they are not going to be doing their job properly!
• BMI – if your weight isn’t in that healthy zone then you are more likely to experience pain due to greater pressure on the joints.
• Nutrition – you should aim to ‘nourish’ your body to aid healing and reduce inflammation.
• Changes in movement – if you decide to take up a high impact sport, clear out the spare room or dig out that tree in the garden and your body is not used to those movements it can fatigue and cause pain.

When dealing with back pain it is important that we take a full body approach to treating such conditions. This isn’t just about a few stretches that will help you out, more to do with lifestyle changes, release exercises, mobility and strength work to rebuild the whole system. Massage can also help to alleviate tight muscles and fascias, we often recommend clients make time for a massage appointment alongside their movement sessions to gain maximum benefits to any recovery programme.