Methods: We used four electronic databases, namely PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane, restricted until May 12, 2017, to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 studies with a pooled sample of pregnant women suffering from LBP and PGP. Subgroup analyses were conducted to compare intervention efficacy in light- versus moderate-intensity exercises performed by pregnant women. The two reviewers independently abstracted data and assessed the strength of evidence in each study using the criteria outlined in the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias.
Results: Nineteen studies were included in this systematic review. Significant reductions in the visual analog scale (VAS) of pain intensity, Roland–Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) of functional status for disability, and sick leave were observed in response to intervention. Overall, the weighted mean difference (WMD) for the VAS of pain intensity was −2.46 points (95% confidence interval [CI]: −4.12, −0.81). Moreover, for both light- (WMD: −2.56, 95% CI: −4.91, −0.21) and moderate-intensity exercise (WMD: −2.29, 95% CI: −4.28, −0.30), the intervention group and control group exhibited significant differences on the VAS of pain intensity. However, the reductions in the VAS of pain intensity following light- and moderate-intensity exercise did not differ significantly (P= .86).
Discussion: Light- and moderate-intensity exercise had the same effects in relieving low back pain (LBP) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP) in pregnant women. Light-intensity exercise for LBP and PGP among pregnant women may be a favorable choice, particularly when they could not achieve higher-intensity exercises. This result can provide health caregivers insight into how to provide effective exercise interventions to relieve and prevent LPB and PGP among pregnant women.
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