Matsuda N1, Kitagaki K1,2, Tsuboi Y1,3, Ebina A4, Kondo Y5, Murata S1,3, Isa T1, Okumura M1, Kawaharada R1, Ono R1
1Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Department of Community Health Sciences, Kobe, Japan, 2National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Department of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Suita, Japan, 3Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan, 4Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation, Kobe, Japan, 5Takatsuki General Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka, Japan
Background: Low back and pelvic pain (LBPP) are common during pregnancy. Although several studies reported that the prevalence of LBPP declines in the first three months after delivery, some women have persistent LBPP. Previous studies showed the negative effect of persistent LBPP on depression, chronic pain, and sick leave, and so the prevention of persistent LBPP is important. In non-pregnant populations, obesity and overweight are associated with low back pain and other musculoskeletal pain. Women experience weight gain in pregnancy. Although the amount of weight gain is needed for fetal growth and postpartum lactation, unhealthy lifestyles such as overeating and inactive cause excessive weight gain. Little is known about how gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with LBPP after delivery.
Purpose: To investigate the association between excessive weight gain in pregnancy and persistent LBPP after delivery.
Methods: We analyzed 331 women who had LBPP in pregnancy. LBPP at 4 months after delivery was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Persistent LBPP was defined as pain onset during or within 3 weeks after delivery. GWG was calculated as the difference between pregnancy weight and the pre-pregnancy weight and we categorized into three groups: less than 10kg, 10-15kg, and more than 15kg. Other confounding factor including age, height, weight at 4 months after delivery, parity, pregnancy week, mode of delivery, weight of fetus, and pre-pregnancy LBPP was assessed. We used logistic regression analysis to calculate LBPP odds ratios according to GWG.
Results: The prevalence of persistent LBPP is 34.1% (n = 113). LBPP was reported by 30.3% of women with GWG of less than 10kg (n = 46), 33.8% of women with GWG of 10-15kg (n = 49), and 52.9% of women with GWG of more than 15kg (n = 18) respectively. Compared to women with GWG of 10-15kg, women with GWG of more than 15kg had higher prevalence of persistent LBPP (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.20, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.03-4.70, Adjusted OR = 2.30, 95%CI = 1.04-5.06) but women with GWG of less than 10kg was not significant (OR = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.52-1.39, Adjusted OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.58-1.64).
Conclusion(s): Our study showed that excessive weight gain in pregnancy is the risk factor of persistent LBPP. Appropriate weight control during pregnancy could prevent women from persistent LBPP after delivery.
Implications: This study gives insight in the prevention of persistent LBPP after delivery. Several approaches that prevent excessive weight gain in pregnancy, such as maternal knowledge of recommended weight gain and intervention of exercise or diet, might be important to prevent persistent LBPP.
Keywords: postpartum women, gestational weight gain, low back and pelvic pain
Funding acknowledgements: This study was not supported.
Purpose: To investigate the association between excessive weight gain in pregnancy and persistent LBPP after delivery.
Methods: We analyzed 331 women who had LBPP in pregnancy. LBPP at 4 months after delivery was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire. Persistent LBPP was defined as pain onset during or within 3 weeks after delivery. GWG was calculated as the difference between pregnancy weight and the pre-pregnancy weight and we categorized into three groups: less than 10kg, 10-15kg, and more than 15kg. Other confounding factor including age, height, weight at 4 months after delivery, parity, pregnancy week, mode of delivery, weight of fetus, and pre-pregnancy LBPP was assessed. We used logistic regression analysis to calculate LBPP odds ratios according to GWG.
Results: The prevalence of persistent LBPP is 34.1% (n = 113). LBPP was reported by 30.3% of women with GWG of less than 10kg (n = 46), 33.8% of women with GWG of 10-15kg (n = 49), and 52.9% of women with GWG of more than 15kg (n = 18) respectively. Compared to women with GWG of 10-15kg, women with GWG of more than 15kg had higher prevalence of persistent LBPP (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.20, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.03-4.70, Adjusted OR = 2.30, 95%CI = 1.04-5.06) but women with GWG of less than 10kg was not significant (OR = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.52-1.39, Adjusted OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.58-1.64).
Conclusion(s): Our study showed that excessive weight gain in pregnancy is the risk factor of persistent LBPP. Appropriate weight control during pregnancy could prevent women from persistent LBPP after delivery.
Implications: This study gives insight in the prevention of persistent LBPP after delivery. Several approaches that prevent excessive weight gain in pregnancy, such as maternal knowledge of recommended weight gain and intervention of exercise or diet, might be important to prevent persistent LBPP.
Keywords: postpartum women, gestational weight gain, low back and pelvic pain
Funding acknowledgements: This study was not supported.
Topic: Women's & men's pelvic health; Pain & pain management; Musculoskeletal: spine
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Ethics committee: Ethics Committee of Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Ethics number: 449-1
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
