Question:
A patient who is 16 weeks’ pregnant is at the healthcare provider’s office for a routine prenatal exam. The nurse is educating the patient about pregnancy-related body changes that will most likely occur in the next several months. Which best describes a condition that affects the musculoskeletal system that occurs during pregnancy?
Answer:
C. Leg cramps
Rationale:
Pregnancy causes physical changes that can impact various body systems, including the musculoskeletal system. The pregnant patient may experience leg cramps, which often develop during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and appear in the calves in the lower legs. Other musculoskeletal symptoms that the patient may experience include low back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.
