Pelvic obliquity during pregnancy
Pregnancy usually brings with it many physical changes that also affect the muscles and have an impact on everyday movements, running and posture. The frequent occurrence of back pain during pregnancy cannot be traced back to clear causes to this day. In recent years, several clinical studies have been conducted on pelvic obliquity during pregnancy with the result that the measurable parameters of pelvic obliquity are not significantly worsened by pregnancy.
Nevertheless, it is certain that pregnancy and childbirth cause increased stress on the joints of the pelvis and a significant weakening of the muscle groups and connective tissue involved. Good medical and physiotherapeutic care during and after pregnancy is therefore all the more important in order to prevent further problems with good pelvic floor and hip muscle training. Possible risks due to pelvic obliquity in relation to childbirth must be weighed up in consultation with gynaecologists and orthopaedic surgeons, depending on the individual findings.
Consequences and effects of pelvic obliquity
The most frequent consequence of a pelvic obliquity is the pain symptomatology already described above. However, if the obliquity persists for a long time, it can also lead to the development of scoliosis (i.e. a spinal curvature) as a chronic consequence. This is caused by the back trying to permanently compensate for the incorrect posture.
Due to the special structure of the spinal column, this is usually relatively successful. However, if this situation persists over a longer period of time, the increased wear and tear leads to restructuring processes and curvature of the spine, which are usually no longer easily reversible. In addition, scoliosis is usually experienced as quite painful by those affected during its development.
Once scoliosis has developed, the spinal column is in a lateral curvature position, which can lead to further complaints. For example, this can then lead to herniated discs, changes in the vertebral body joints and even nerve entrapment, which in turn can be accompanied by loss of sensitivity. In addition, wear and tear can also occur in joints of the pelvic ring itself (sacroiliac joint, ISG) or in joints below it, such as the knee joint or the ankle joint.
These are usually accompanied by cartilage damage and permanently restrict the movement of the affected extremity. Scoliosis is the medical term for an abnormal angle of curvature of the spine to the side and the rotation of the vertebral bodies. It is noticeable that scoliosis and pelvic obliquity often occur together.
The cause of scoliosis has not yet been clearly clarified, but a genetic component can be suspected. In the idiopathic form of scoliosis, it is assumed that hormonal disorders are responsible for growth spurts that have pathological effects on the spinal column. In myopathic or neuropathic scoliosis, muscular imbalances and associated poor posture are likely to be the cause of scoliosis. Thus, pelvic obliquity is also an important triggering factor.
