How to Rock to Ease Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain, according to the book "Abdominal Pain: A Guide to Rapid Diagnosis," is pain you feel between your lower ribs to your upper pelvis and could involve the bowels or reproductive organs. Serious abdominal pain might be caused by complications in pregnancy or appendicitis. Some common, less serious causes of abdominal pain are menstrual cramps and constipation. Regardless of the reason for your abdominal pain, you want relief. Rocking can provide relief from abdominal pain if you rock correctly, flexing the appropriate muscles to provide comfort rather than more pain.

Things You'll Need

• Mat (optional)
• Pregnancy ball (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Sit on the floor and stretch your legs out in front of you. Use a mat if you don’t have a rug or soft carpeting.

• 2

  Lean your weight back on your arms. Your hands should be about 8 inches behind you on the floor.

• 3

  Draw your knees up, keeping your feet flat on the floor, and grasp them with both arms. Hold one of your wrists with the other arm.

• 4

  According to Nyhus, you should begin by lifting your feet an inch off the floor as you rock backward, and put them back on the floor as you rock forward. Push off the floor with your feet again to repeat the process, lifting your feet higher with each rocking motion. Rock as gently or as vigorously as you find comforting for the abdominal pain.

• 5

  Continue to rock back and forth until the pain in your abdomen subsides.