Lordosis and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

What is the effect of pregnancy on the curvature of the vertebral column?

A. Cervical curvature
B. Thoracic curvature
C. Lumbar curvature
D. Sacral curvature

Answer:

During pregnancy, the lumbar curve of the vertebral column is affected due to lordosis or swayback.

During pregnancy, women may experience an exaggerated lordosis, or swayback, which affects the lumbar curvature of the vertebral column. This is due to the anterior shift of the body's gravity center caused by the increased weight in the abdominal region.

The curvature affected during pregnancy due to an exaggerated lordosis is the lumbar region of the spine. This excessive anterior curvature is a physiological adaptation to support the increased weight of the growing fetus.

While these changes can lead to discomfort and lower back pain during pregnancy, they typically resolve post-pregnancy as the body returns to its pre-pregnancy status. It is important to be mindful of proper posture and engage in appropriate exercises to support the spine during pregnancy.