Week 4 Flashcards
(465 cards)
What are the normal pregnancy challenges in the 1st trimester of pregnancy?
– Nausea/morning sickness (vs HG)
– Dizziness/lightheadedness
– Fatigue
What are the normal pregnancy challenges in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy?
– Low blood pressure (watch out for orthostatic hypotension!)
– Easily dehydrated
What are the normal pregnancy challenges in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy?
– Cramping/pain with uterine stretching – Fatigue – Dizziness/lightheadedness – Easily dehydrated – Braxton-Hicks contractions – Stress incontinence – Shortness of breath – Pain/swelling in the feet
What are the big changes a pregnant woman experiences that may lead to an MSK problem?
– 25-35 pounds gained (on average) – Force across the joints is increased up to 2-fold – Release of hormones (primarily relaxin) triggers laxity in ligaments and increased mobility in the joints – Position of uterus/weight distribution changes dramatically – Dramatic increase in breast size
What are the red flags to watch out for in the pregnant population?
• DVT/Blood Clot (increased risk during pregnancy due to changes in blood flow)
– Requires immediate referral to ED
• Blood glucose crisis
• Fracture
– Transient osteoporosis of pregnancy (rare)
• Preterm labor symptoms
– Differentiate from Braxton-Hicks
What is the biggest thing to find out about the precautions and contraindications of pregnancy?
• It is crucial to determine whether the patient has had an uncomplicated pregnancy thus far!
What do you do if a patient has a history with the complication of a pregnancy?
– If there has been a complication, make sure you
consult with the doctor or another resource to determine what level of intervention is acceptable
What are the contraindications, precautions when a patient has had episodes of early labor?
- Exercise that gets the heart rate up may be contraindicated
- Manipulations/mobilizations are
contraindicated - Massage is a precaution
What is one thing to make sure to measure if pre-eclampsia is a concern?
Blood pressure
What are the normal pregnancy precautions/ contraindications?
– No prolonged supine positioning during the 3rd trimester*
– Most cannot tolerate prone positioning
– No heavy lifting
– No Valsalva/breath holding during exercise
– Monitor for lightheadedness and educate regarding eating
prior to exercise to hold off potential hypoglycemic events
– No moist heat on the low back or abdomen (cold is fine)
• Heat recommendation: don’t increase core body temp by >1 deg F
– No electrical stimulation or therapeutic ultrasound on the
low back or abdomen
How is the physical examination process of a pregnant patient different form a normal patient?
No difference, except more attention being paid to the positioning of the pregnant patient
___ physical exam is very important in the pregnant patient and why?
Gait analysis physical exam is very important in the pregnant patient.
Very important, because it gives the most vital information about functional strength since MMT positions might not always be possible
It is never too early to educate about the correct way to ___
It is never too early to educate about the correct way to sit up!!
What position should a patient use to try to sit up and what is the purpose?
Log roll. Purpose is to prevent or decrease the severity of diastises rectus abdominis
What is the biggest change a PT makes during a joint mobility physical exam?
Changes in the spine mbility.
– Lumbar mobility-sidelying
– Thoracic/rib mobility-seated and leaning forward
– Cervical mobility-lower the table, stand behind them
What happens to the hip in hips joint mobility?
Hips: reclined or supine
What are the normal findings during pregnancy?
- Laxity in joints
- Increased lumbar lordosis
- Slight “waddle” in gait (after about week 35)
- “G11ravid” appearance (enlargement of abdomen)
What are the abnormal findings during pregnancy?
• Pain with joint mobilization • Increased thoracic kyphosis • Trendelenberg or antalgic gait pattern • High tone/”spasm” feeling in lower abdomen • Inability to single leg stance
What is the most common MSK pain in pregnant patients?
Low back and SI pain
What is the cause of low back and SI pain in pregnant patients?
Gravid uterus (posterior posture) causes weight of the uterus to be carried posterior to normal center of gravity. This creates a tremendous mechanical strain on the low back. – Additionally, relaxin causes ligamentous laxity in the spine and pelvic joints
What are the characteristics of low back/ SI pain in the pregnant population?
• Very exaggerated Trendelenberg gait (can be compensated or uncompensated)
• Inhibited ability to use pelvic floor and/or abdominal musculature
• Dramatically increased joint
mobility in the lumbar spine and SI region
• Often accompanied by muscle spasms
• Increased pain with single leg
stance or active hip flexion
• Often point tender to palpation
____ is severe leg pain that may accompany low back pain or occur in isolation and can often be severe enough to wake pregnant patient at night
Sciatica is severe leg pain that may accompany low back pain or occur in isolation and can often be severe enough to wake pregnant patient at night
Pregnant women do NOT have a higher incidence of disc herniation, and as a result their sciatica is a ___ one from ___
Pregnant women do NOT have a higher incidence of disc herniation, and as a result their sciatica is a mechanical one from *the changes in the joint position and the joint pressures, posture and are accompanied by spasms in the piriformis
The sciatica in the pregnant patient is more of a ___ syndrome than it is a disk herniation sciatica
The sciatica in the pregnant patient is more of a piriformis syndrome than it is a disk herniation sciatica