title: Physical exercise and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy: A nested case-control study within the Danish National Birth Cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pelvic girdle pain is a frequent cause of sick leave among pregnant women in Denmark. Studies regarding prevention of pelvic girdle pain are sparse. The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical exercise and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nested case-control study within the Danish National Birth Cohort (n = 5304).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used self-reported data on pelvic girdle pain obtained from an interview six months after childbirth. Information on physical exercise was obtained from the pregnancy interview around gestational week 16. The association was estimated using logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical exercise in pregnancy was associated with decreased risk of overall pelvic girdle pain (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77-0.99, p = 0.028). Tests for trend indicated decreasing odds for pelvic girdle pain with increasing number of hours per week spent on exercise (p < 0.001). Compared to no exercise, swimming was associated with a decreased risk of pelvic girdle pain (OR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.58-0.91, p = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest a possible protective effect of physical exercise on pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: The Research Unit Women's and Children's Health, The Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: linda.kahr.andersen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Linda Kahr
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: The Research Unit Women's and Children's Health, The Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Roskilde University Hospital, Køgevej, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Backhausen
authors.affiliation: The Research Unit Women's and Children's Health, The Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; The Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Child, Family, and Reproductive Health, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hanne Kristine
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hegaard
authors.affiliation: The Research Unit Women's and Children's Health, The Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Metropolitan University College, København N, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juhl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D059388:Pelvic Girdle Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D013550:Swimming; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Case–control study; Pelvic girdle pain; Physical exercise; The Danish National Birth Cohort