Improving Spinal Alignment in Pregnant Women with Low Back Pain
Author Information
Author(s): Żurawski Arkadiusz Łukasz, Ha Sun Young, Świercz Grzegorz, Adamczyk Gruszka Olga, Kiebzak Wojciech Piotr, Warburton Darren, Combs C. Andrew
Primary Institution: Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce
Hypothesis
Can targeted motor control interventions focusing on sternal alignment improve spinal alignment, reduce pain, and enhance muscle activity in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth?
Conclusion
Targeted motor control focusing on sternal alignment effectively improved spinal alignment and reduced pain in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth with low back pain.
Supporting Evidence
- Significant improvements were observed in spinal alignment parameters.
- Pain intensity decreased significantly from a mean NRS score of 5.77 in relaxed posture to 2.54 in corrected posture.
- Muscle activity of the rhomboid muscles increased in the corrected posture.
Takeaway
This study shows that helping pregnant women stand up straight can make their backs feel better and help them move more easily.
Methodology
This pre–post quasi-experimental study involved 32 pregnant women at 28–32 weeks of gestation, who performed targeted motor control exercises to improve spinal alignment, with measurements taken before and after the intervention.
Potential Biases
The sample was homogeneous, consisting only of pregnant women at risk of preterm birth, which may limit generalizability.
Limitations
The study lacked a control group and focused only on immediate effects without evaluating long-term benefits.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged between 22 and 30 years, all pregnant women at 28–32 weeks of gestation with low back pain.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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