Meeting exercise guidelines during pregnancy associates with less lumbopelvic disability and fear avoidance

Sixty-three percent of pregnant persons report experiencing lumbopelvic pain (LPP), which can negatively impact quality of life and lead to the development of fear avoidance behaviors. Exercise is a safe, non-pharmacological treatment for reducing and preventing the development of pain, but the volume of exercise required for one to benefit from it is unknown.

Determine whether meeting exercise guidelines during pregnancy associates with LPP, disability, and fear avoidance behaviors.

Cross-sectional study.

Pregnant persons (n = 50, 32.0 ± 4.2 years, 28-32 weeks of gestation) were included. Participants completed questionnaires assessing second-trimester physical activity (PPAQ), current pain, lumbopelvic disability, and fear avoidance and then underwent a physical examination for the presence of LPP. Participants who met exercise guidelines (>150 min moderate intensity physical activity/week, PA, n = 24) were compared with those who were not physically active (<90 min moderate intensity physical activity/week, NPA, n = 26). Nonparametric tests compared groups on outcomes with significance set at p < 0.05. Post hoc odds ratios were calculated for moderate disability status. Spearman's rho correlations were conducted between physical activity (MET min/week), pain, and disability.

NPA participants reported more disability due to LPP (p = 0.02), more fear avoidance behaviors (p = 0.03), and more provoked LPP (p = 0.09) than PA participants. NPA participants were also more likely to report LPP disability (OR = 3.89, 95% CI: 1.19-12.68) and fear avoidance behaviors (OR = 4.38, 95% CI: 1.03-18.56). In all participants, more moderate intensity physical activities were associated with less disability (ps < 0.05) and fewer fear avoidance behaviors (p = 0.06). Pain severity did not differ between groups (ps > 0.05).

Meeting pregnancy exercise guidelines throughout the second trimester associated with less LPP disability, fewer fear avoidance behaviors, and less-provoked pain, but did not associate with pain severity.