Effects of Exercises On Pregnancy Related Low Back Pain: A Quasi Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of therapeutic exercises on pregnancy related low back pain in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi. Material & Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with non-probability convenience sampling technique. Study was carried out at Liaquat National Hospital Karachi. Patients were divided into two groups (Experimental and Control). Inclusion criteria were age <30 years, 2nd and 3rd trimester, stable medical status and those who gave the informed consent. Exclusion were pregnancy induced hypertension (>140/90mmHg), Cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, persistent vaginal bleeding, history of miscarriages, decreased foetal movement. Data was collected through assessment Modified Oswestry Low back pain disability questionnaire. SPSS version 23.0 was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 30 samples were selected for the study. There were 15 respondents in experimental while 15 in control group. Disability levels were found to be significantly decreased after post treatment in experimental group with P-value= 0.002. It was seen that number of patients was increased from 1(6.7%) to 6(40%) in minimal disability group whereas crippled back pain group in pre-treatment group was totally shifted towards minimal or moderate pain 3(20.0%) and no case was seen in post-treatment. Conclusion: Low back pain in pregnancy can disturb daily life routine but exercise therapy and proper counselling will lead stress free life to female in gestation. After post treatment in experimental group showed decrease in pain as compare to control group who were not provided any exercise therapy. Working women in experimental group also showed decrease by crippled back pain to moderate pain after exercise. So in the end researcher suggest that physiotherapy exercises play a vital role in reducing Low Back Pelvic Pain (LBPP) during pregnancy.