Welcome to Health Plus Pregnancy Joint Pain Clinic Ilford

Pregnancy should be a time of happiness and anticipation. However, as your body adapts to support the growing baby and prepare for delivery, you may start to feel joint and muscle pain.

Pregnancy and child care increase women's vulnerability to back problems. Studies in the USA indicate that between 40% and 60% of pregnant women get back pain.*1

From this statistic, you may have thought low back pain was an unavoidable part of pregnancy, however, with chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage treatment programmes focussed on good posture, safe movement, back exercises and improved mobility you could gain relief and meet pregnancy's special demands.

In addition to preventing or reducing back pain, your programme may bring other benefits. No one can promise an easy delivery or a fast recovery. But, you may find that the improved biomechanical function and increased strength gained from your chiropractor programme improves your stamina and ability to push during labour.

Causes of Back Pain during Pregnancy

Although there are many causes of back pain during pregnancy, postural changes may be the most common. As your uterus enlarges, your abdominal muscles stretch further and your upper, mid and low back muscles shorten and tighten. This imbalance coupled with increased weight may exaggerate the spine's three natural curves, leading to stressed postures. The increased production of hormones to prepare for delivery causes the loosening of pelvic joints, which can cause back pain. You also may fell pain if a nerve is pinched or trapped by pressure from the baby or your changing posture. The sciatic nerve, running from the low back down the leg, is most often affected and called sciatica.

Moving two people is harder than moving just one - and it puts extra stress on your back. Think through each move before you make is, so that you'll use the right muscles for the job. Moving safely will help maintain good posture, reduce back pain and avoid injury.

Easing Discomfort

• Ice pack (as directed by your practitioner)
• Heat pack (as directed by your practitioner)
• Exercises (as directed by your practitioner)

Massage (by experienced qualified practitioners in pregnancy massage)

Importantly, the stress of pregnancy and approaching motherhood can create tension and anxiety, which in turn contribute towards low back pain. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing practices and even a quiet lie-down in a comfortable position may be helpful

Caution with Back Pain

Back pain may be a sign of preterm labour. Call your doctor or midwife if you have any of the following signs before the 37th week of pregnancy:

• Low, dull backache or pelvic pressure
• Four or more contractures (tightening of the uterus) in one hour. These may not be painful
• Menstrual like cramps

Bleeding or watery discharge from your vagina

After the Birth

Back pain, joint pain and muscle pain often does not end with the delivery of your child especially if the pain has been present for a considerable length of time. Your chiropractor or massage therapist will discuss the benefits of an after delivery programme to maintain your improved back giving you the security and flexibility to look after your newborn baby.

Following a natural birth, you can return to having treatment after 6 weeks. Following caesarean section you can return to having treatment after 12 weeks.

If further information is requested regarding your case and whether Health Plus Pregnancy Joint Pain Clinics Ilford can help, please contact the clinic or email info@healthplusclinics.com

About Ilford

Ilford is a large suburban town in northeast London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located 9.1 miles (14.6 km) northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail centre surrounded by extensive residential development. Ilford was historically a small rural settlement in the county of Essex and its strategic position on the River Roding and the London to Colchester road caused it to develop as a coaching town. The arrival of the railway in 1839 eventually accelerated that growth and as part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Ilford significantly expanded and increased in population, becoming a municipal borough in 1926 and has formed part of Greater London since 1965.

Ilford is divided between the UK Parliament constituencies of Ilford North and Ilford South. Ilford North consists of the Redbridge wards of Aldborough, Barkingside, Redbridge, Clayhall, Fairlop, Fullwell, Hainault and Roding. The MP is Lee Scott of the Conservative Party. Ilford South corresponds to the Redbridge wards of Chadwell, Clementswood, Cranbrook, Goodmayes, Loxford, Mayfield, Newbury, Seven Kings, and Valentines. The MP is Mike Gapes of the Labour Party. Ilford forms part of the Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency and the London European Parliament constituency.

Ilford has the postal code IG1 and the dialing code of 0208

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Health Plus Clinics include Health Plus Pregnancy Joint Pain Clinics Ilford.