Back pain is a common ailment for both men and women all around the world. But did you know that women are more prone to having chronic back pain than men are? Today, I want to go over why women tend to experience back pain more often, what you can do to alleviate it, and how physical therapy can help.
Common Causes of Back Pain in Women
There are many reasons why your doctor might recommend you for pelvic surgery, but here are some of the most common reasons and how physical therapy can handle each without surgical intervention:
There are several common causes of back pain in women:
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the female body changes to accommodate the baby as it grows. The extra weight in a pregnant woman’s abdomen changes her center of gravity and can cause her to arch her lower back when standing to compensate. This puts more pressure on the joints and muscles in the lower back and can lead to pain, especially in the second and third trimesters. This pain can get to the point that it prevents her from walking around easily and interferes with her daily life.
Childbirth
The act of birthing a child is a physically intense experience that can lead to muscle tears, bone fractures, internal bruising, and scar tissue. All of these factors can weaken the core muscles and lead to chronic back pain. Even if you have a straightforward birth experience, many women lose muscle tone in the later stages of pregnancy because they spend more time resting due to the weight of their belly.
Additionally, once baby is born, it can be difficult to get used to your normal center of gravity now that you don’t have to compensate for the extra weight. These situations can also lead to chronic back pain in postpartum women.
Child-rearing
If you’ve ever cared for a child, you’ve probably noticed there’s a lot of bending over that happens. Whether it’s done to change a diaper, pick baby up, clean up toys, or even cradle your newborn, mothers tend to bend forward a lot in the first few years of their baby’s life. Without good posture and strong core muscles, especially when lifting, this can lead to chronic back pain.
Menopause
During menopause, women’s hormone levels fluctuate and decrease over time. The hormone estrogen helps to promote bone and cartilage health, and the body starts to produce less of it during and after menopause. This can lead to more aches and stiffness in the spine, which can lead to back pain. During menopause, blood flow to the muscles can also reduce and cause slight muscular atrophy. This weakens the muscles and can also contribute to back pain.
Hormonal deficiencies
In the same way that reduced hormone levels during menopause can affect muscles and bones, women with hormonal deficiencies can experience similar symptoms. This is because a lack of estrogen can affect bone, cartilage, and muscle health and even lead to conditions like osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
Abdominal weight gain
When you gain more weight in your abdomen, it puts more pressure on your muscles and joints. This can be any kind of weight gain, such as from pregnancy, hormonal changes, not getting enough exercise, etc. This changes your center of gravity and affects the way you move and your posture. Over time, this can lead to chronic back pain as well.
Why Women Should See a Physical Therapist for Back Pain
Our physical therapists are trained to help women handle the causes of their back pain effectively so they can move freely and comfortably. We can teach you how to correctly engage your muscles to support your posture, especially during pregnancy or child-rearing. If your back pain is caused by excess weight gain, we can help you make nutritional changes to address this issue. We also use manual therapy techniques, stretches, and exercises to help you loosen up tight muscles, build strength, and take excess pressure off your joints that may be contributing to lower back pain.
Call Rebound PT to Get Back in Action
If you’re experiencing chronic back pain, our physical therapists can help. Call Rebound at (785) 271-5533 if you have any questions or if you’d like to schedule an evaluation, and we’ll help you get back in action.
