Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction Management

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD), also known as pubic joint pain or anterior pelvic girdle pain, can be absolutely debilitating during pregnancy. This pain presents in the front of your pelvis where the bones are, just in front of your vagina. It’s not be as common as low back or hip pain during pregnancy, but it can cause many issues when trying to live your life. Common activities such as walking, standing on one leg, walking up and down the stairs, rolling over in bed, and getting out of the car and getting dressed may be painful.

Unfortunately, a lot of women just suffer through pain during pregnancy. They may be instructed by their doctor to take Tylenol or a muscle relaxer to relieve the pain. If you’ve ever experienced this type of pain, you know that those medications BARELY make a difference. It can also be emotionally taxing when you’re told “it will only get worse as you get further along”. We need to stop creating more FEAR around this type of pain and empower women through movement and patient education.

Here are my best tips and tricks for managing the pain during pregnancy:

1. Sit down when getting dressed and putting on your shoes.
2. When getting in and out of the car swivel your feet out together, place them on the ground, and do a box squat out of the seat. Reverse this on the way into the car – put your booty in first by doing a squat and then swivel your legs into the car together.
3. Since walking up and down the stairs can be painful, trying walking up the stairs sideways.
4. When rolling over in bed try doing a transverse abdominis contraction to better support and protect your pubic joint while moving.
5. Load the adductors.
6. Get adjusted! Being adjusted by a prenatal chiropractor when you are experiencing pubic joint pain during pregnancy can be a GAME CHANGER.