title: Low back pain in 1,100 Iranian pregnant women: prevalence and risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low back pain (LBP) is a common and costly problem in pregnancy. It is one of the main reasons for disability, absence from work, and responsible for huge direct and indirect economical impact.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of LBP during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out on Iranian pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven hundred randomly selected pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured questionnaire including demographic, lifestyle, as well as prevalence and characteristics of LBP was used. Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry low back disability questionnaires were also used to assess the pain intensity and functional disability, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  After ethical approval from Medical Ethics Board at the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,100 pregnant women from 18 health centers in Sari district, at northern Iran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Point, last-month, last 6-month, last-year, and lifetime prevalence of LBP were 40.2%, 55.9%, 59.4%, 76.2%, and 84.1%, respectively. Prolonged standing and rest were found to be the most significant aggravating and relieving factors (76.3% and 87.7%, respectively). LBP was significantly correlated with history of previous LBP and LBP in previous pregnancy (p=.000 in both cases).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of LBP in pregnant women appears to be high and future research should focus on different preventive strategies during pregnancy.
authors: Rehabilitation Department, School of Medicine, Khazar Blvd., Sari, PO Box 48168, Mazandaran, Iran. mohseni_bandpei@yahoo.com
authors: Mohammad A
authors: MA
authors: Mohseni-Bandpei
authors: Moulod
authors: M
authors: Fakhri
authors: Marjan
authors: M
authors: Ahmad-Shirvani
authors: Masumeh
authors: M
authors: Bagheri-Nessami
authors: Ali Reza
authors: AR
authors: Khalilian
authors: Masoud
authors: M
authors: Shayesteh-Azar
authors: Hakimeh
authors: H
authors: Mohseni-Bandpei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult