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Musculoskeletal Anatomic, Gait, and Balance Changes in Pregnancy and Risk for Falls

  • Chapter
Musculoskeletal Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders are common during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Even when musculoskeletal pathology or impairments are recognized, a lack of understanding sometimes leads to treatment avoidance due to the belief that symptoms will spontaneously resolve in the postpartum period. Missed opportunities for appropriate musculoskeletal care during pregnancy can increase the risk for cesarean delivery and may affect the long-term health of both mother and child. This initial chapter describes the musculoskeletal anatomic changes that occur during pregnancy and how these changes affect balance, gait, and risk for falls during pregnancy as well as the long-term health of women even into their post-reproductive years.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Kansas, Rainbow Boulevard, Mailstop 1046 3901, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA

    Neil A. Segal MD, MS

  2. Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Stacey R. Chu BS

Authors
  1. Neil A. Segal MD, MS
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  2. Stacey R. Chu BS
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Correspondence to Neil A. Segal MD, MS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Loyola University, Maywood, Illinois, USA

    Colleen M. Fitzgerald

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

    Neil A. Segal

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Segal, N.A., Chu, S.R. (2015). Musculoskeletal Anatomic, Gait, and Balance Changes in Pregnancy and Risk for Falls. In: Fitzgerald, C., Segal, N. (eds) Musculoskeletal Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14319-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14319-4_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-14318-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-14319-4

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