PMC Musculoskeletal Changes in Pregnancy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which hormone is primarily responsible for ligament laxity during pregnancy?
- Estrogen
- Relaxin (Correct answer)
- Progesterone
- Oxytocin
Correct answer: Relaxin
Relaxin is the primary hormone that softens and loosens ligaments and joints throughout the body during pregnancy.
Question 2: How does the growing uterus typically affect the diaphragm during the third trimester?
- It pulls the diaphragm downward
- It elevates the diaphragm by up to 4 cm (Correct answer)
- It has no effect on diaphragm position
- It causes the diaphragm to flatten permanently
Correct 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.
Question 3: A pregnant client in the third trimester reports hip pain that worsens when walking. Which joint is most likely destabilized by pregnancy hormones?
- Hip flexor enthesis
- Sacroiliac joint (Correct answer)
- Acetabular labrum
- Greater trochanteric bursa
Correct answer: Sacroiliac joint
Relaxin-induced laxity commonly destabilizes the sacroiliac joint, causing posterior pelvic pain that worsens with weight-bearing activities.
Question 4: What is the term for the separation of the rectus abdominis muscles along the linea alba during pregnancy?
- Diastasis recti (Correct answer)
- Rectus hematoma
- Linea nigra divergence
- Abdominal ptosis
Correct answer: Diastasis recti
Diastasis recti is the widening or separation of the two rectus abdominis muscle bellies along the midline linea alba.
Question 5: Which spinal curve typically increases as a direct compensation for the anterior shift in the pregnant client's center of gravity?
- Cervical lordosis
- Thoracic kyphosis
- Lumbar lordosis (Correct answer)
- Sacral kyphosis
Correct answer: Lumbar lordosis
Lumbar lordosis increases as the body compensates for the forward shift in center of gravity caused by the growing abdomen.
Question 6: Carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy is most directly caused by which physiological change?
- Decreased nerve conduction velocity
- Fluid retention causing median nerve compression (Correct answer)
- Increased carpal bone density
- Wrist ligament hypertrophy
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which muscle group typically becomes eccentrically overloaded and weakened due to progressive anterior pelvic tilt in pregnancy?
- Hip flexors
- Gluteal muscles (Correct answer)
- Hip adductors
- Quadriceps
Correct answer: Gluteal muscles
Anterior pelvic tilt lengthens and weakens the gluteal muscles while shortening and tightening the hip flexors and lumbar extensors.
PMC Musculoskeletal Changes in Pregnancy 2
Which hormone is primarily responsible for ligament laxity during pregnancy?