EFFECTIVENESS OF CORE STABILITY EXERCISES IN MANAGEMENT OF GESTATIONAL BACK PAIN IN SECOND AND THIRD TRIMESTER

Abstract

AIM: The aim of study was to evaluate the effectiveness of core stability exercises and pelvic floor exercises in management of low back pain among pregnant women in second and third trimester.
METHODS: The study is a randomized controlled trial on 60 pregnant women with low back pain in second and third trimester, aged between 17-40 years were recruited in study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria from three teaching hospitals. They were randomly allocated into two groups. Experimental group or exercise group received core stability and pelvic floor exercises and control group was treated by their medical doctors with medications and did not receive any physical therapy. Both groups were asked for follow up after one month. Visual analogue scale and Oswestry low back pain disability index were used as an outcome measure. Paired T-test and mean, median, mode
and standard deviation were used for comparison.
RESULT: Average age was 24+3.910 in experimental group and in control group mean age was 24 +3.882. Significant difference was seen in pain intensity and disability among both groups. The effectiveness of core stability exercises showed reduction in pain intensity (p 0.000) however, the mean of reduction in pain intensity was greater in exercise group as compared to control group. Similarly, means of functional disability was decreased in exercise group (p 0.000). There were no complications reported by pregnant females.
CONCLUSION: Core stability and pelvic floor exercises can relieve gestational back pain in second and third trimester of pregnancy and more effective than medications.