EFFECTS OF 8-WEEK STABILIZATION EXERCISES ON PELVIC GIRDLE AND LOW BACK PAIN AMONG PREGNANT FEMALES

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM
90% of pregnant female suffer with low back and pelvic girdle pain during the course of pregnancy. This study is aimed to determine the
efficacy of stabilization exercises in the pregnant female in order to improve their compliance in activities of daily living (ADL’s), with the
reduction in the pain intensity.
METHODOLOGY
A Quasi-experimental study was conducted at the out-patient physical therapy department of tertiary care hospital. 89 pregnant
female participated and evaluated twice, both before and after treatment. Stabilization exercises were performed including a 10
minute warm up session followed by 40 minutes of circuit training. Circuit training consisted of two phases, phase 1 comprised of
muscular exercises while phase 2 consists of cardiovascular exercises followed by a cool down session of 10 minutes
RESULTS
Results showed significant reduction (p<0.05) in pain scores on VAS where the median scores of the pain was reduced to 3 post treatment
from 6 pretreatment and functional mobility of women on pregnancy mobility index with mean of 15.12±3.88 was improved to 8.54±3.13
CONCLUSIONS
Stabilization exercise helped in reducing pregnancy related Low back pain and showed great improvement in physical activities in
the participant which improved the quality of life.

KEY WORDS
Pelvic Girdle Pain, Low Back Pain, Stabilization Exercise, Gestation, Pregnancy, Quality of Life.