Pelvic movements during walking throughout gestation - the relationship between morphology and kinematic parameters

Many researchers emphasize adaptations following pregnancy. Our purpose was to get more insight into how morphology interacts with the pelvic walking pattern - the segment most prone to the adaptation following altered body demands.

Thirty women were enrolled. Three experimental sessions were arranged according to the same protocol in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. First, the anthropometric measures were taken, then walking trials at a self-selected speed were registered. At the end of the experimental session the subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire on pain.

The sagittal plane pelvic range of motion (RoM) significantly increased throughout pregnancy. There were significant positive correlations between pelvic anthropometric dimensions and pelvic tilt and rotation primarily in the third trimester of pregnancy. Significant positive correlations were found between pelvic RoM and thigh circumference. Indicators associated with body mass increase were positively correlated with pelvic obliquity in the second trimester and pelvic tilt and rotation in late pregnancy. It is also worth noting that the individual differences were not related to back pain and that the reported correlations were observed in some but not in all trimesters.

Morphological changes following the fetus growth induced increased pelvic tilt and rotation, however, pelvis movements were not associated with back pain. Overall, the results highlight correlations between morphology and pelvis kinematic patterns in some but not in all trimesters.