title: Does regular exercise during pregnancy influence lumbopelvic pain? A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study lumbopelvic pain in women randomized to a regular exercise program during pregnancy in comparison to women receiving standard antenatal care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-armed, two-center, randomized controlled trial. Setting. St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital and Stavanger University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 855 pregnant women were randomized to intervention or control groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention was a 12 week exercise program, including aerobic and strengthening exercises, conducted between 20 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. One weekly group session was led by physiotherapists, and home exercises were encouraged twice a week. The control group received standard antenatal care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reports of lumbopelvic pain and sick leave due to lumbopelvic pain. The data were analysed according to the "intention-to-treat" principle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between groups of women reporting lumbopelvic pain at 36 weeks (74 vs. 75%, p=0.76). The proportion of women on sick leave due to lumbopelvic pain was lower in the intervention group (22% vs 31%, p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise during pregnancy does not influence the prevalence of lumbopelvic pain, but women offered a regular exercise course seem to handle the disorder better.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. signe.n.stafne@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Signe N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Stafne
authors.forename: Kjell Å
authors.initials: KÅ
authors.lastname: Salvesen
authors.forename: Pål R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Romundstad
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stuge
authors.forename: Siv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mørkved
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome