Self-help may relieve back pain during pregnancy

Learning a few self-help techniques may ease lower back pain that is common during and after pregnancy, research suggests. In a study of 126 women who experienced continuing back pain after childbirth, researchers found that those who learned self-management techniques from a physical therapist fared better than those who received standard care. The findings, published in the online journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, suggest that learning how to deal with back pain in day-to-day life can be more useful to women than traditional medical care, where the therapist "has an expert role and sets the treatment goals", according to lead researcher Dr Caroline H. G. Bastiaenen of Maastricht University.

She told Reuters Health that for women in the self-management group, the therapist acted like a teacher instead, offering each patient advice on their daily activities.

At the three-month mark, women in the self-management group were more likely to have recuperated and returned to work.

There were no major differences between the groups after one year, but this was because most of the women had recovered by that point, Dr Bastiaenen said.

Back pain is very common during pregnancy because hormonal changes lead to softening of the ligaments and tendons, making women more prone to injury and strain.

After childbirth, having young children tends to require bending and carrying, and this also gives rise to pain in the lower back.