Impact of Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions on Quality of Life of Pregnant Women

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is a special condition which is neither a disease nor a normal body status. The anatomical, physiological, and biochemical adjustments are significant during pregnancy, starting soon after fertilization and continuing throughout pregnancy. Reasons for pain during pregnancy include hormonal changes, increased weight, postural variations and impaired strength and co-ordination of abdominal and pelvic muscles. Musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy can have a significant negative impact on day to day functioning. Objectives: To determine the level of musculoskeletal discomforts in pregnancy, to explore the relationship between the musculoskeletal discomfort and quality of life in pregnancy and to associate the selected demographic variables with musculoskeletal discomfort in pregnancy. Methods: Cross-sectional research design was used. 323 antenatal mothers, gestational age more than 20 weeks, attending antenatal OPD of a tertiary care hospital of western Rajasthan were selected with the convenient sampling technique. Pregnancy musculoskeletal discomforts were assessed by Pregnancy Induced Musculoskeletal Dysfunctional Scale (PMDS) and quality of life (QOL) was assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF scoring questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyse the data. Results: Pregnant women reported most frequently the low back pain (60%) and leg cramps (42%) and majority of them experienced mild form of pain. Result also showed the number of symptoms increased with progressing trimester. In case of quality of life, less than 50% of pregnant women reported with average and poor quality of life. The quality of life was found to be negatively correlated with various level of intensity of musculoskeletal pain. Conclusion: Among various musculoskeletal dysfunctions, low back pain and leg cramp are the most common symptoms of all and it affects the quality of life in pregnancy in different dimensions of health. Considering this aspect would help health care professionals to offer appropriate care and education in view of prevention of musculoskeletal dysfunctions and promote health of mother during pregnancy.