Question: Is the Missionary Position Safe If I Have Back Pain?
The missionary position can be a challenge to maintain if you have back pain, and it also is fairly limiting in terms of movement. With the help of props and variations in positions, up to a certain point, the missionary position can be tailored to accommodate back pain.
Answer: When the partner on the bottom has back pain, keeping the knees bent while in the missionary position may relieve low back stress. You can tailor the missionary position to your needs by lying on a firm surface, placing a rolled towel under your low back and/or placing a pillow under your knees to help keep them flexed. Experiment with these variables to find the one that enables your sexual activity with the least amount of pain.
When the partner on top has back pain, the missionary position might present some problems, and the type of injury is a determining factor. If your pain is felt when your back is arched, the missionary position may not be the one for you. You can try propping yourself up on your forearms so that you can control the arch in your back, but this could become tiring. In any case, the thrusting made possible by the missionary position can aggravate your back. An alternative is to lie on your side, bend your knees and make love more gently than before.
Sources
Hebert, Lauren, A., P.T. (2001). Sex and Back Pain. Greenville, ME: IMPACC USA.
White, A., III, M.D. (1990). Your Aching Back: A Doctor's Guide to Relief. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster/Fireside.
Kisner, C., & Colby, L.A. (2002). Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques.Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.
