H E A L T H+WE L L N E S S N EWS L E T T E R
HAPPY PREGNANCY! HAVE A RELIEVE YOUR PREGNANCY PAINS WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY It is no secret that pregnancy takes quite the toll on your body. It is normal for expecting mothers to experience musculoskeletal aches and pains, and one of the most commonly reported areas of discomfort is the back. In fact, most expecting mothers experience back pain, usually during the second half of their pregnancy. Fortunately, physical therapy treatments can help relieve your undesirable back pain so you can get back to comfortably doing what matters most – preparing for your new bundle of joy. WHY DO YOU EXPER I ENCE BACK PA IN DUR ING PREGNANCY? The short answer is this: you’re growing a baby! Most expecting mothers report their back pain occurring at the “sacroiliac joint,” which is the area where your pelvis meets your spine. This happens due to a combination of several factors, including: • Increased weight. Women typically gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. This puts extra stress on the spine, since it is responsible for supporting your weight. The growing baby in your uterus also puts extra pressure on the nerves and blood vessels surrounding your back and pelvis, which can also attribute to your back pain.
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Kaitlin Stewart, DPT, SCS Kaitlin was first introduced to physical therapy when she dealt with chronic ankle sprains in high school while playing varsity basketball and track. Following high school, she completed her undergraduate education at the University of Michigan where she received her Bachelor of Science in
Brain Behavior and Cognitive Psychology. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Kaitlin attended Emory University where she earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. Following her graduation from Emory, Kaitlin remained in Atlanta where she joined an outpatient sports medicine clinic. She also continued to further her education by becoming a Pilates Mat certified instructor. In the past year since her relocation to Seattle, Kaitlin has been specializing in pediatric and adolescent sports medicine. She has had the opportunity to work with a variety of middle school, high school and collegiate athletes. Kaitlin’s professional focus has been in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy, manual therapy, functional exercise based training, and biomechanical evaluations with a special focus on runners to improve efficiency and decrease pain. She also enjoys working with operative and non-operativemusculoskeletal injuries. Kaitlin is enjoying living in the Pacific Northwest and likes the moderate climate that allows for running and hiking with her husband and golden retriever.
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