Osteopathic Research Web

Low back pain in pregnancy - do Austrian women know about the osteopathic approach?

Item

Title

Low back pain in pregnancy - do Austrian women know about the osteopathic approach?

Author(s)

Albrecht Michaela

Abstract

BACKGROUND: My intention was to evaluate the prevalence of pregnancy related pain
in the musculoskeletal system in Austria and the knowledge about osteopathic treatment
during pregnancy. If there is data which accounts for a need, an advertising campaign
should be undertaken.
METHODS: A self administered questionnaire was distributed among pregnant women in
obstetric primary care units of three Austrian hospitals granting a broad spectrum of social
strata.
RESULTS: Pain in the musculoskeletal system is mentioned by 73.3% (95%CI: 65.1%-
80.1%) of the pregnant women. 68% of the pregnant women have pain in the lumbar
spine, in the pelvis or in both (95%CI: 60 - 75%), 50% only in the lumbar spine (95%CI:
42 - 59%) and 46% only in the pelvis (95%CI: 38 - 54%). These results are largely
independent from the hospital and thus from living conditions, from age , trimenon and parity.
Two thirds of these women have pain several times a day and 6.1% permanently. A
significantly higher prevalence of longer periods of back pain (several times a day or
permanent pain) can be observed in multiparous women. No significant dependencies of
pain frequencies on trimenon, social structure and age could be observed..
No more than approximately 36% of the women already have sought therapeutic aid
against pain, 70% of the women consider to have other or additional therapies to reduce
pain and additional 5% would accept therapies during pregnancy, if necessary. In case
of pain, massage, remedial gymnastics and acupuncture are popular strategies.
In total, only a third of the women state to have knowledge about osteopathic treatment
and less than half of the woman think to have the possibility of osteopathic treatment.
The most important information source about osteopathic treatment are relatives and
friends. Midwives and physiotherapists contribute to a much smaller extent to knowledge
about osteopathic treatment and information contribution of medical doctors is negligible.
Data from a private clinic indicate that recommendations by physiotherapists, midwives
and medical doctors are essential for an increase of the knowledge and acceptance of
osteopathic treatment by the pregnant women.
CONCLUSION: Since prevalence of pregnancy related pain, which can be treated
efficiently with osteopathic methods, and the risk of persisting back pain post partum is
high, an information campaign should be started to enhance the knowledge about
possibilities of osteopathic treatment for pregnant women but even more important for
their health care providers. Publications of study results in international scientific
magazines, should be intensified in order to encourage prenatal care providers to
recommend osteopathic treatment.
KEY WORDS: pregnancy, low back pain, pelvic pain, osteopathic treatment, knowledge

presented at

Wiener Schule für Osteopathie

Date Accepted

2006

Date Submitted

1.1.2006 00:00:00

Type

osteo_thesis

Language

English

Submitted by:

62

Pub-Identifier

13548

Inst-Identifier

781

Keywords

Pelvic Pain,Low Back Pain,Pregnancy

Recommended

0

Medium

Albrecht_Michaela.pdf

Item sets

Thesis

Media

Albrecht_Michaela.pdf

Albrecht Michaela, “Low back pain in pregnancy - do Austrian women know about the osteopathic approach?”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 13, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/2985