Musculoskeletal Changes in Pregnancy Flashcards

Which hormone is primarily responsible for ligament laxity during pregnancy?

Answer: Relaxin

Relaxin is the primary hormone that softens and loosens ligaments and joints throughout the body during pregnancy.

How does the growing uterus typically affect the diaphragm during the third trimester?

Answer: It elevates the diaphragm by up to 4 cm

The enlarged uterus pushes abdominal contents upward, elevating the diaphragm by approximately 4 cm, which can reduce lung capacity.

A pregnant client in the third trimester reports hip pain that worsens when walking. Which joint is most likely destabilized by pregnancy hormones?

Answer: Sacroiliac joint

Relaxin-induced laxity commonly destabilizes the sacroiliac joint, causing posterior pelvic pain that worsens with weight-bearing activities.

What is the term for the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba during pregnancy?

Answer: Diastasis recti

Diastasis recti is the widening or separation of the two rectus abdominis muscle bellies along the midline linea alba.

Which spinal curve typically increases as a direct compensation for the anterior shift in the pregnant client's center of gravity?

Answer: Lumbar lordosis

Lumbar lordosis increases as the body compensates for the forward shift in center of gravity caused by the growing abdomen.

Carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy is most directly caused by which physiological change?

Answer: Fluid retention causing median nerve compression

Pregnancy-related fluid retention (edema) increases pressure within the carpal tunnel, compressing the median nerve and causing carpal tunnel symptoms.

Which muscle group typically becomes eccentrically overloaded and weakened due to progressive anterior pelvic tilt in pregnancy?

Answer: Gluteal muscles

Anterior pelvic tilt lengthens and weakens the gluteal muscles while shortening and tightening the hip flexors and lumbar extensors.