But those are not widespread, Salamat says, while back pain is a complaint for at least 50 percent of her patients. She has, however, seen the pain persist for some women as long as a year after childbirth, particularly if it's related to excessive weight gain. Dr. Rafael Guinot, an obstetrician at South Miami Hospital, recommends rest and occasionally Tylenol for his patients with back pain. In contrast with Hayes' findings, Guinot says the return to a normal center of gravity after childbirth alleviates the pain. Exercise is important, Salamat and Hayes agree.
Runners can keep running as long as it's comfortable.
Sedentary women are urged to start walking. For all women, the balance challenges of the third trimester call for caution. Hayes bemoans the fact that the U.S. health care system is not geared toward prevention or extensive physical therapy. That has forced the physical therapist's role in many cases from rehabilitation to education. Most of the previous studies of pregnancy pain were conducted in Australia and European countries with socialized medicine, where physical therapy is more available.