Critical Review Example
The Impact of Physical Therapy on Peripartum Females with Low Back/ Pelvic Pain
Mary E. Bono
December 13, 2004
Critical Literature Review and Scientific Writing, IDST 6400
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey "Peripartum pelvic pain is defined as pain in the pelvic region (with or without radiation) that started during pregnancy or within three weeks after delivery and for which no clear diagnosis is available to explain the symptoms." (Mens, Vleeming, Stoeckart, Stam, & Snijders, 1996, p. 1363). Forty-nine percent of women who are pregnant experience some type of back pain, including pain that is experienced above the lumbar region, in the lumbar region and pain over the sacroiliac joints, sometimes with radiation into the thighs (Ostgaard, Andersson, & Karlsson, 1991). Heckman and Sassard (1994) reported that women with a history of back pain prior to becoming pregnant are twice as likely to develop back pain while pregnant, as well as women who have been previously pregnant. Although low back pain and pelvic pain are extremely common in women, the exact etiology is unknown.
A woman 's body undergoes many changes during pregnancy. First, there is a change in the center of gravity due to weight gain. The average weight gain during a single-fetus pregnancy is twelve kg. As the uterus begins to enlarge and ascend into the abdominal cavity, the center of gravity is displaced upward, forward and laterally, during the twelfth week of pregnancy (LaBan & Rapp, 1996). This change in the center of gravity leads to a change in the degree of lordosis of the spine, although there are conflicting views in the literature whether there is an increase or decrease in lumbar lordosis. There is agreement however, that this change in lordosis affects the paraspinal musculature. Furthermore, the abdominal muscles become overstretched and weakened as the expanding uterus separates the rectus abdominis (Fast, Weiss, Ducommun, Medina &
Mary E. Bono
December 13, 2004
Critical Literature Review and Scientific Writing, IDST 6400
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey "Peripartum pelvic pain is defined as pain in the pelvic region (with or without radiation) that started during pregnancy or within three weeks after delivery and for which no clear diagnosis is available to explain the symptoms." (Mens, Vleeming, Stoeckart, Stam, & Snijders, 1996, p. 1363). Forty-nine percent of women who are pregnant experience some type of back pain, including pain that is experienced above the lumbar region, in the lumbar region and pain over the sacroiliac joints, sometimes with radiation into the thighs (Ostgaard, Andersson, & Karlsson, 1991). Heckman and Sassard (1994) reported that women with a history of back pain prior to becoming pregnant are twice as likely to develop back pain while pregnant, as well as women who have been previously pregnant. Although low back pain and pelvic pain are extremely common in women, the exact etiology is unknown.
A woman 's body undergoes many changes during pregnancy. First, there is a change in the center of gravity due to weight gain. The average weight gain during a single-fetus pregnancy is twelve kg. As the uterus begins to enlarge and ascend into the abdominal cavity, the center of gravity is displaced upward, forward and laterally, during the twelfth week of pregnancy (LaBan & Rapp, 1996). This change in the center of gravity leads to a change in the degree of lordosis of the spine, although there are conflicting views in the literature whether there is an increase or decrease in lumbar lordosis. There is agreement however, that this change in lordosis affects the paraspinal musculature. Furthermore, the abdominal muscles become overstretched and weakened as the expanding uterus separates the rectus abdominis (Fast, Weiss, Ducommun, Medina &
References: Espinet et al. (2005) | 7993 diabetic patients | Participation in a DDMP | Prospective Cohort | Those who participated had a statistically significant higher rate for HbA1ctesting and control rate, LDL-C screening and level rate and eye exam rate. |