title: Does antenatal physical therapy for pregnant women with low back pain or pelvic pain improve functional outcomes? A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A systematic review was undertaken to update the understanding of the available evidence for antenatal physical therapy interventions for low back or pelvic pain in pregnant women to improve functional outcomes when compared with other treatments or no treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven electronic databases were systematically searched and supplemented by hand searching through reference lists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion and independently assessed the internal validity of the included trials using the Clinical Appraisal Skills Program tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four trials with 566 participants were identified that met the inclusion criteria. The validity of the trials was moderate. Exercise, pelvic support garments and acupuncture were found to improve functional outcomes in pregnant women with low back or pelvic pain. No meta-analysis was performed because of the heterogeneity of functional outcome measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While there is some evidence that physical therapy using exercise, acupuncture and pelvic supports may be useful, further research needs to consider other treatment modalities used by physical therapists and establish an appropriate, reliable and valid functional outcome measure to assess low back and pelvic pain in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Kessel
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Virgara
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D015982:Bias; D003376:Counseling; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011481:Protective Clothing; D016896:Treatment Outcome