Lower Extremity Considerations in the Pregnant Patient

Abstract

There remains a paucity of literature on musculoskeletal dysfunction, biomechanics, and pathologies of the lower extremity during pregnancy. There are a multitude of physiologic changes that affect a large percentage of patients throughout pregnancy. Podiatric pathologies observed during gestation can be debilitating for this population, ranging from musculoskeletal and biomechanical causes to traumatic injuries and thromboembolic events. This literature review aims to provide an updated review of lower extremity considerations during pregnancy. The authors seek to provide guidance to clinicians based on a review of the available evidence today, and we aim to address deficiencies in research involving the pregnant population. Levels of Evidence: Level V