FOOT PAIN DURING PREGNANCY During pregnancy there are hormones in a woman’s body that loosen and relax the ligaments and joints. This, along with weight gain especially during the last trimester and changes in the mechanics of the body because of the widening and tilting forward of the pelvis, weight gain in front of the normal center of gravity of the body which alters balance and increases low back curvature, and a wider, waddling (no offense) base of gait, there are profound and lasting changes in the feet. In fact, I have seen that during a single pregnancy, the foot spreads out and flattens at least a ˝ shoe size and width, and if the foot is not supported during this and the subsequent pregnancies, the foot can spread out as much as two full shoe sizes! Many pregnant women patients have complained of increasing foot pain and fatigue and that their feet are swollen, but also bigger and wider. Therefore, the use of foot orthotics to balance and support your feet, or the ‘Lavac Strap™, which is designed to prevent the arch from collapsing and to prevent the foot from spreading out, will support and stabilize your feet and prevent these problems during the pre- and post-natal months.
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