In plain terms
Pregnancy-Related Back Pain, in plain terms
What it is
Back pain during pregnancy is very common. More than half of all pregnant women feel it at some point.
The pain usually shows up in the lower back or in the area around the hips and pelvis.
It is not just a minor ache for many women. Some need time off work because of it.
The good news is that it is a well-known condition, and there are safe ways to get relief.
Why it happens
Your body goes through big changes during pregnancy. Your center of gravity shifts as your baby grows, and that puts new stress on your lower back.
Your body also makes a hormone called relaxin. This hormone loosens the joints in your pelvis so there is room for your baby. But looser joints can also make your back feel unstable and sore.
Women who have had lower back or hip pain before pregnancy are more likely to feel it again during pregnancy.
What it feels like
Most women feel a dull, deep ache in the lower back or across the hips.
Some feel pain that shoots into one or both legs. Others notice that sitting or standing for a long time makes things worse.
The pain often gets more intense as pregnancy moves along, especially in the second and third trimesters.
How chiropractic care helps
Chiropractic care focuses on the bones, muscles, and joints of your spine and pelvis. A chiropractor can use gentle hands-on techniques — called spinal adjustments — to help your joints move better and feel less painful.
Soft tissue therapy, which is gentle work on the muscles around your spine, can also ease tightness and soreness.
Guided exercises give your back and core the support they need to carry your growing baby more comfortably.
Patients who receive this kind of care during pregnancy report less pain, better movement, and an overall improved ability to do daily activities.
What to expect
At Calloway Chiropractic & Wellness in Crystal River, FL, Dr. James Calloway, DC will take time to understand what you are feeling and how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Your care plan will be built around what is safe and comfortable for you right now. Techniques are adjusted throughout pregnancy as your body changes.
Many patients feel more comfortable and move more freely after just a few visits. The goal is to help you feel well through every stage of pregnancy — and beyond.
To get started, call us at (352) 555-0187. We are here to help you have a more comfortable pregnancy.
The Science: For Those Who Want to Go Deeper
The mechanism
Pregnancy-related low back pain (PRLBP) is defined as pain of insidious onset in the lumbar or sacroiliac region that begins during pregnancy, and its natural course tends toward intensification as the pregnancy progresses [5].
The precise pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. Current hypotheses center on suboptimal spinal biomechanics driven by the progressive anterior shift in the maternal center of mass, rising levels of the hormone relaxin — which induces generalized ligamentous laxity across the pelvis and lumbar spine throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period — and evolutionary constraints related to bipedalism [4][5].
Ligamentous laxity, while necessary for pelvic accommodation of the fetus, reduces the passive stabilizing capacity of the sacroiliac joints and lumbar segments, increasing the demand placed on active neuromuscular stabilizers. When that demand is not met, pain and functional limitation follow [4].
A consistent risk factor identified across 25 studies is a prior history of lumbar, pubic symphysis, or sacroiliac pain, suggesting that pre-existing musculoskeletal vulnerability is amplified by the hormonal and mechanical environment of pregnancy [5].
What the evidence shows
PRLBP carries a substantial public health burden: it goes unreported to health care providers approximately 68% of the time despite causing sick leave in roughly two thirds of affected women, and only about 25% of those who do report symptoms receive any management guidance [5].
Untreated PRLBP has meaningful long-term sequelae. Women who experience it and receive no treatment face elevated risk of persistent low back pain at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum, and this risk extends to three and six years after delivery — a trajectory not seen in women who were treated during pregnancy [2].
Systematic reviews have reported favorable effects for chiropractic treatment of PRLBP, and chiropractic care represents a substantial care option given that a considerable proportion of pregnant women with low back and pelvic pain actively seek it — with roughly 80% of those who present to chiropractors reporting either low back pain, pelvic pain, or a combination of both [4].
A pilot study evaluating spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), exercise, and neuro-emotional technique for PRLBP found that the safety profile of these interventions in pregnant populations paralleled what has been established for SMT in non-pregnant populations, with no adverse events attributable to treatment [2].
Qualitative research corroborates the quantitative safety signal. In a descriptive study exploring the experiences of pregnant women and their chiropractors, all treating clinicians reported no adverse events across their pregnant caseloads, and all patients reported no adverse events following any treatment session. Patients described positive outcomes including reduced low back pain symptoms, improved range of motion, and improved overall function; chiropractors routinely modified techniques as comfort levels changed throughout pregnancy [1].
Passive interventions such as support belts are not well substantiated by the literature for PRLBP; in non-pregnant populations such devices are associated with deconditioning and potential injury, reinforcing the case for active, supervised conservative care [2].
From a health economics perspective, chiropractic management of low back pain in non-pregnant populations has been shown to be approximately 60% more cost-effective than traditional biomedical care after controlling for case complexity — a finding that motivates further investigation of its value specifically for PRLBP [2].
When to seek other care
- Call your OB, midwife, or go to an emergency room right away if you have sudden, severe pain that is very different from your usual back ache — especially if it comes with cramping or contractions.
- Seek urgent care if you notice any numbness, tingling, or weakness spreading into your legs, groin, or feet, as this can signal pressure on a nerve that needs prompt evaluation.
- If you experience pain alongside fever, chills, or pain when urinating, contact your doctor quickly, as these can be signs of a kidney or urinary tract problem rather than a musculoskeletal one.
- Any vaginal bleeding, fluid leaking, or other signs of preterm labor that accompany your back pain require immediate medical attention — do not wait.
- Always let Dr. Calloway know about any high-risk pregnancy factors or warnings from your OB or midwife before beginning chiropractic care, so your treatment plan can be coordinated safely with your full care team.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?
- Research and clinical experience both support the safety of chiropractic care — including spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and exercise guidance — during pregnancy. Studies report no adverse events in pregnant patients receiving this type of care, and chiropractors routinely modify their techniques to match your comfort level and stage of pregnancy. As always, let your chiropractor and your OB or midwife know about each other so your care is fully coordinated.
- How common is back pain during pregnancy?
- Very common. More than half of all pregnant women experience low back or pelvic pain at some point during their pregnancy. Despite how widespread it is, many women do not report it to a health care provider and even fewer receive guidance on how to manage it — which is why reaching out early makes a real difference.
- Will the back pain go away on its own after I give birth?
- For some women it does, but not for everyone. Research shows that women who do not receive treatment during pregnancy are more likely to continue having back pain for months — and sometimes years — after delivery. Getting care while you are pregnant may help prevent the pain from becoming a longer-term problem.
- What does a chiropractic visit for pregnancy back pain actually involve?
- At Calloway Chiropractic & Wellness, Dr. James Calloway will start with a thorough conversation about your symptoms, your pregnancy, and your health history. Treatment typically involves gentle spinal adjustments, soft tissue work on tight muscles, and exercises tailored to your stage of pregnancy. Positioning and techniques are adapted to keep you and your baby safe and comfortable at every visit.
- Can chiropractic care help with pelvic pain, not just low back pain?
- Yes. Many pregnant women experience pain in both the low back and the pelvic region — sometimes together. Chiropractic care addresses the joints, muscles, and ligaments of both areas, and research on pregnancy-related care includes pelvic pain alongside low back pain as part of the same overall condition.
- When during my pregnancy should I start chiropractic care?
- There is no single right time — care can be beneficial at any stage. Many women begin when pain first appears, while others come in early as a preventive measure. If you are already well into your second or third trimester and just starting to seek help, it is not too late. Call us at (352) 555-0187 and Dr. Calloway will work with you wherever you are in your pregnancy.
Sources & Research
This page was written from the following passages in our chiropractic research library.
- 1.goertz 31257002 pmc
drug events in chiropractic patients should be developed. more scholarly attention is warranted to inform further expert consensus about what constitutes a useful and necessary skillset ( and requisite preparatory training ) of…
- 2.haas 22694756 pmc
mother and the fetus [ 52 ]. additionally, passive intervention for the treatment of prlbp using support belts is not well substantiated by the literature [ 53 ]. in non - pregnant populations the use of support belts promotes…
- 3.Nichelle Gurule Invites You To Parker Seminars Dallas 2025 MrBbeq73cko
for pelvic health, a blueprint for chiropractic care from pregnancy to postpartum, and another one on from bump to birth, improving health outcomes for mom and baby through rehab focused chiropractic care. you'll walk away immediately with…
- 4.haas 28739017 pmc
laxity throughout the pregnancy, labour, and post - partum periods [ 48 ], this finding is plausible. women frequently seek chiropractic care for pregnancy, with 80 % reporting low back pain or pelvic pain [ 49 ] or a combination of both […
- 5.haas 22694756 pmc
full text ( pmc body ) background pregnancy - related low back pain ( prlbp ) is pain of insidious onset in the lumbar or sacroiliac region that begins during pregnancy [ 1, 2 ]. over half of all pregnant women experience prlbp [ 3, 4 ]…