Author:
Üzelpasaci E.,Akbayrak T.
Abstract
BackgroundLow back pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem which negatively affects functional capasity and quality of life during pregnancy (1). So, from the beginning of pregnancy, pregnant women should be supported by appropriate exercise approaches recomended as first-line therapy to reduce the complaints about low back pain (2, 3). Although there are different opinions about the type, intensity and frequency of exercise in order to improve function in pregnant women with low back pain, there are no comparative studies on the diversity and length of the exercise program.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare the effects of supervised, long and multivarity an exercise program (LEP) and a short exercise program (SEP), planned based on core stabilization and in line with the needs of pregnant women, on functional capasity and quality of life.MethodsA total of 27 pregnant women complained about low back pain, without obstetric and medical complications were included in this study. Detailed sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics were recorded. Back pain intensity, functional capacity and the quality of life were determined by the Vidual Analogue Scale (VAS), 6-minute walk test and Short Form-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire. All outcome measures were evaluated at baseline, at 24 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. Starting from the 16th week of pregnancy to the 32nd week, for 16 weeks, 2 days a week, under the supervision of a physiotherapist, a stabilization-based exercise program consisting of posture training, upper extremity, lower extremity, abdominal and pelvic floor strengthening and breathing exercises was applied to the pregnant women by progressing modified. During the warm-up, loading and cool-down, while LEP consists of a total 20 different exercises; SEP consists of 9 different exercises. Both groups were advised to walk as an aerobic modarate exercise for 30 minutes, 3 days a week. The Independent Groups t-test was used to compare variables between groups at baseline 16th, 24th and 32nd week of pregnancy. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.Results14 pregnant women (mean age: 30.50 ± 4.11 years, mean body mass index (BMI)16th, 24th, 32nd week of pregnancy: 23.42±3.81, 25.02±3.71, 26.25±3.73 kg/m2) in LEP, 13 pregnant women (mean age: 30.75±5.05 years, BMI16th, 24th, 32nd week of pregnancy: 24.73±3.84, 26.28±3.85, 27.91±3.60 kg/m2) in SEP completed this study. Baseline parameters were similar between the two groups (p>0.05). There was no superiority between groups in terms of back pain intensity at the 24th and 32nd week of pregnancy (p>0.05). While at the 24th week of pregnancy, 6-minute walking test distance, emotional role limitation and pain sub-dimension scores of health-related quality of life were found to be higher in LEP (p<0.05), at the 32nd week of pregnancy, only 6 minutes walking test distance were found to be higher in LEP (p<0.05).ConclusionLEP is more effective in terms of increasing functional capacity, emotinal role limitation and pain-related quality of life in the short term and is more effective in terms of increasing functional capacity in the long term than SEP during pregnancy. In this respect; our study will guide clinicians to create indiviually exercise programs for the neeeds of pregnancy.References[1]Aragão FFd. Pregnancy-related lumbosacral pain. BrJP. 2019;2:176-81.[2]Gutke A, Betten C, Degerskär K, Pousette S, Fagevik Olsén M. Treatments for pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain: a systematic review of physiotherapy modalities. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. 2015;94(11):1156-67.[3]Liddle SD, Pennick V. Interventions for preventing and treating low-back and pelvic pain during pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015(9).Disclosure of InterestsNone declared.
Subject
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Immunology,Immunology and Allergy,Rheumatology