On examination, Sally was just showing her pregnancy and there was obvious muscle spasm along the muscles of the back restricting her forward bending movement. When I palpated her back (whilst on her tummy supported with pillows) the L3 vertebrae was very stiff and tender to the touch. As this is the vertebrae which is required to move to facilitate arching over the back and so as her pregnancy progressed, this would continue to cause her worsening pain. Sally was diagnosed with a Stiff Spinal Segment at L2/3 and she was happy to be treated on the floor, with pillows to prevent compression of her stomach. I mobilised L3 with my foot and also the area above and although initially painful, Sally described it as a good pain as she felt it was really getting to the root of her pain. Sally was very keen to do anything to help prevent problems throughout her pregnancy and so was hugely compliant with the exercises I taught her.

Sally returned 4 days later for a follow up treatment, and although the area felt bruised the restriction in movement had significantly improved after the last treatment. I treated Sally once again on the floor and taught her the Back block exercises which she could continue throughout the rest of her pregnancy and helped her with the pain.