title: Evaluation of the efficacy of an exercise program for pregnant women with low back and pelvic pain: a prospective randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of exercise programs on pregnant women with pregnancy-related low back and pelvic pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Low back and pelvic pain during pregnancy is a major health problem due to its frequent occurrence and such pain can limit pregnant women in many of their daily activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized trial with a control group (n = 48) and an intervention group (n = 48). Trial registration number NCT02189356.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, between December 2011-May 2012, an Education and Research Hospital in Turkey. Based on the intention-to-treat principle, all pregnant women were analysed according to the group they were assigned to, regardless of whether they received the intervention or not. Participants in the intervention group received health counselling and exercised regarding low back and pelvic pain for four weeks. The pregnant women in the control group received usual care, comprised of routine clinical practice for pregnancy-related low back and pelvic pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to Mann-Whitney U test analysis results, there was a statistically significant difference between the control and intervention groups' Visual Analogue Scale during relaxation scores and Visual Analogue Scale during activity scores at the end of the study. According to Mann-Whitney U test analysis results, the change in the mean Oswestry Disability Index score for the intervention group and the difference in the mean scores between the two groups was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A four-week exercise program including individualized health counselling to relieve low back and pelvic pain improved the functional status in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nursing Department, School of Nursing, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nursing Department, School of Nursing, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bebis
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nursing Department, School of Nursing, Hasan Kalyoncu University, Sahinbey, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ortabag
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Epidemiology Department, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cengizhan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Acikel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: exercise program; nurse; pregnancy-related low back and pelvic pain