Abstract
BackgroundThe aims of this study were (i) to investigate the potential influence of pre-pregnancy regular leisure-time physical activity (PA) on the risk of persistent LBPP half a year after pregnancy, and (ii) to explore the starting time and prevalence of PA among women experiencing LBPP during pregnancy, in relation to remission or persistent LBPP half a year after pregnancy.MethodsThis study is a follow-up study of 639 women who reported LBPP during pregnancy. These women were sent a questionnaire at approximately six months after delivery. The respondents were divided into three groups: 'no pain', 'recurrent pain', and 'continuous pain'. Data were analysed using an independent samples t-test, Pearson's chi-squared test, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results44.5% of subjects reported current PA at six months post partum. The mean starting time of PA was 2.6 months post partum and the mean number of current, weekly events of PA was 3.4; there were no differences between the groups. 82.2% reported previous PA at some period in life. Women with BMI ≥ 30 reported current PA to a lesser extent. The number of years of pre-pregnancy PA did not influence the risk of persistent LBPP.ConclusionAlmost half of women who had experienced LBPP during pregnancy reported PA at six months post partum. The number of years of pre-pregnancy PA did not influence the risk of persistent LBPP. Obesity was a risk factor for not practising PA.
Highlights
The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the potential influence of prepregnancy regular leisure-time physical activity (PA) on the risk of persistent LBPP half a year after pregnancy, and (ii) to explore the starting time and prevalence of PA among women experiencing LBPP during pregnancy, in relation to remission or persistent LBPP half a year after pregnancy
Physical activity prior to pregnancy Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of the number of years of pre-pregnancy PA did not reveal any significant impact on the risk of persistent LBPP six months after delivery (Table 2, see additional file 2)
Body mass index (BMI) and physical activity A higher proportion of women with BMI < 30 than women with BMI ≥ 30 reported current PA (Table 3, see additional file 3) (OR = 1.86; 95% confidence intervals (95% confidence intervals (CI)) = 1.01–3.42)
Summary
The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the potential influence of prepregnancy regular leisure-time physical activity (PA) on the risk of persistent LBPP half a year after pregnancy, and (ii) to explore the starting time and prevalence of PA among women experiencing LBPP during pregnancy, in relation to remission or persistent LBPP half a year after pregnancy. A majority of women suffer from low back pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy [1,2]. This pregnancy-related condition negatively influences self-estimated health and interferes with sexual activity during pregnancy [3]. Around four out of ten women report persistent LBPP half a year after delivery [6,7,8,9]. At three years post partum, 20% of all women with back pain during pregnancy report persistent symptoms [11]. Test for difference between groups (ttest for parametric data and Pearson's chi-square for categorical data). Test for difference between groups (t-test for parametrical data and Pearson's chi-square for categorical data).
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