A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Stabilizing Exercises for Lumbopelvic Region Impact in Postpartum Women With Low Back and Pelvic Pain

Abstract

Background Countless women experience lumbopelvic pain (LBPP) after pregnancy. Physical activity is revealed as a beneficial procedure to alleviate LBPP, yet it appears that individual investigations report mixed conclusions about its effectiveness. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of stabilizing exercises on pain intensity, disability, and quality of life (QoL) in postpartum women. Data sources: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, and reference lists of included studies up to September, 2021. Study selection: Eleven studies comprising 623 participants were included and analyzed using a random-effects model. Results: Data displayed that stabilizing exercises significantly reduced pain (standard mean difference; SMD: −0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): −1.26 to −0.27, p = .002), and disability (SMD: −1.19, 95% CI: −1.7 to −0.68, p < .001). However, our study found no significant change in QoL following stabilizing exercises (MD: 4.42, 95% CI: −5.73, 14.57, p = .39). Conclusion: Our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that stabilizing interventions had some benefits in postpartum women. While there is some evidence to display the efficacy of stabilizing exercises for relieving LBPP, additional longer-term and high-quality studies are required to confirm the current findings.