Musculoskeletal Changes in Pregnancy Flashcards
7 cards from real PMC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Musculoskeletal Changes in Pregnancy flashcards as text
The 'waddling gait' of pregnancy is primarily caused by which musculoskeletal change?
Answer: Pelvic girdle laxity and altered center of gravity
Laxity of the pelvic girdle joints combined with an anterior-shifted center of gravity causes the characteristic waddling gait of late pregnancy.
A prenatal client complains of numbness and tingling in her lateral thigh. Which nerve is most likely compressed?
Answer: Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Meralgia paresthetica in pregnancy is caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve as it passes under the inguinal ligament, due to abdominal enlargement.
How does increased thoracic kyphosis during pregnancy affect the cervical spine?
Answer: It leads to compensatory cervical hyperextension and forward head posture
Increased thoracic kyphosis causes the head to migrate forward (forward head posture) with compensatory cervical hyperextension to keep the eyes level.
Which abdominal muscle is MOST stretched and functionally compromised in the third trimester of pregnancy?
Answer: Rectus abdominis
The rectus abdominis is the most dramatically stretched muscle in the third trimester and can separate at the linea alba, causing diastasis recti.
During pregnancy, the rib cage circumference typically increases by approximately how much to accommodate respiratory changes?
Answer: 5-7 cm
Pregnancy hormones cause rib flaring and the thoracic circumference increases by approximately 5-7 cm to compensate for diaphragm elevation.
Which postural deviation commonly associated with pregnancy is most likely to cause tension headaches?
Answer: Forward head posture with upper cervical extension
Forward head posture with upper cervical hyperextension causes suboccipital muscle tension that frequently contributes to tension-type headaches in pregnant clients.
Piriformis syndrome during pregnancy is exacerbated primarily by which factor?
Answer: Sciatic nerve entrapment from piriformis hypertrophy due to altered gait
The altered gait pattern of pregnancy causes the piriformis to hypertrophy and tighten, increasing the risk of it compressing the sciatic nerve.