Pregnancy: How does it affect a woman's foot?
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Pregnancy is a 9 month challenge to the human body and then over and done. But is it? Are there long term effects from this normal, but radically different, period of time in a woman's life.. And, what are the effects of multiple pregnancies? What are the effects if the weight gain is never removed? This paper begins to shed some light on this relatively little studied natural phenomenon. It summarizes 8 papers which, after reading, seem to only scratch the surface.
Paper #1: Conclusion: Emphasis on plantar pressure increases in the forefoot, which is significantly increased and potentially pathological to the foot and more than just seen in the weight gain of pregnancy.
Paper #2 Conclusion: No change in foot length, but a change in volume. A decrease in the longitudinal length and height of the medial arch was noticed. There was a decrease in arch height, leading to pronation.
Paper #3 Conclusion: Significant foot changes occur in pregnancy with the most around the 32 week gestation period (close to 8 months).
Paper #4 Conclusion: As with the last study, increases in hindfoot pressures were seen as the pregnancy progressed. This study also saw increases in the midfoot pressures during pregnancy. Typically, increases in these areas mean there is less active motion.
Paper #5 Highlighted Conclusion: Significant Increase in External Angle of Gait of the Right Foot only during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
Paper #6 Conclusion: Documented an increase in both the length and width of feet during pregnancy.
Paper #7 Conclusions: Changes related to medial lateral sway increased as the pregnancy progressed. There was also less propulsion during the third trimester vs the other 2 trimesters.
Paper #8 Conclusion: “The results suggest that pregnancy appears to be associated with a permanent loss of arch height and stiffness that could potentially lead to an abnormal arthrokinematics in the lower limb, ultimately placing atypical stress on the musculoskeletal system in postpartum women.”
The gist of these papers indicate a preventive approach to this issue with good custom orthotic devices and foot strengthening exercises.
