Effectiveness of Tailor Made Exercise Intervention for Low Back Pain and Pelvic Pain during Pregnancy - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and objectives: The incidence of low back pain & pelvic pain during pregnancy is about 55% and can occur at any time during the gestational period. Several biomechanical and physiologic changes during pregnancy contribute to pain which can manifest as lumbopelvic pain. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a tailor made physiotherapy intervention for lumbar pain & pelvic pain during pregnancy.

Method: 210 pregnant women with complaint of low back pain and pelvic pain were recruited after obtaining an informed consent and clearance from the institutional ethical committee. Various clinical tests were used to diagnose and classify subjects into both lumbar pain group, sacroiliac pain group and symphysis pain group respectively. The subjects were then randomly allocated to control (C1, C2 & C3) and study groups (S1, S2 & S3). Physiotherapy intervention included education and postural correction and routine antenatal exercises in control group whereas exercises specific to particular joint dysfunction which was tailor made was given for each study group for 5 days consecutively. Outcome measures were documented using visual analog scale (VAS) and Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) on 1st day pre intervention and 5th day post intervention respectively.

Results: There was statistically significant reduction in VAS and MODQ scores in all study and control groups postintervention. However when study and control were compared, lumbar pain group and symphysis pubis pain group showed significant reduction in VAS & MODQ than sacroiliac pain group.

Conclusion: Tailor made Physiotherapy intervention has shown to be effective in declining pain and improving functional outcome in lumbar pain & symphysis pubis pain during pregnancy.