Water aerobics reduces sick leave due to low back pain during pregnancy

• OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of a land-based, physical exercise program versus water aerobics on low back or pelvic pain and sick leave during pregnancy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Three antenatal care centers. PARTICIPANTS: 390 healthy pregnant women. INTERVENTIONS: A land-based physical exercise program or water aerobic once a week during pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sick leave, pregnancy-related low back pain or pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, or both. RESULTS: Water aerobics diminished pregnancy-related low back pain (p=.04) and sick leave due to pregnancy-related low back pain (p=.03) more than a land-based physical exercise program. CONCLUSIONS: Water aerobics can be recommended for the treatment of low back pain during pregnancy. The benefits of a land-based physical exercise program are questionable and further evaluation is needed.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Allmänmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- General Practice (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescent

Adult

Exercise Therapy/*methods

Female

Humans

Low Back Pain/diagnosis/epidemiology/*prevention & control

Nurse's Role

Nursing Evaluation Research

Pain Measurement

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis/epidemiology/*prevention & control

Prenatal Care/methods

Risk Factors

Sick Leave/*statistics & numerical data

Sweden/epidemiology

*Swimming

Treatment Outcome

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)