Effect of sitting pelvic tilt exercise during the second half of pregnancy on severity of lumbar pain

BACKGROUND AND The pelvic tilt is a major abdominal exercise. It is designed to strengthen or increase the flexibility of the muscles needed to compensate for increased abdominal mass and thereby maintaining normal posture. Therefore, this study is performed to assess the effect of sitting pelvic tilt exercise during the second half in primigravidas on lumbar pain.METHOD AND MATERIAL: In this randomized controlled trial, 60 healthy primigravida women chosen in the two groups. The experimental group received the pelvic tilt exercise program for 8 weeks during 20th-30th gestational weeks. Pain intensity was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) at day 0 and day 56 in both group.Analysis of data was performed by Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Mann-whitney, Fridman test, Independent and Paired t-test and General linear models. The VAS of pain in the experimental group was significantly lower at day 56 than at day 0 and lower than the control group at day 56 (p<0,001). There was statistically significant difference of mean VAS at day 56 and day 0 in the control group (p=0.001). This exercise had no any effect on change of FHR, pulse and BP of mother for determine of effective variable.CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION: The sitting pelvic tilt exercise during the second half of pregnancy in primigravidas could decrease lumbar pain intensity. Therefore, It is suggested teaching sitting pelvic tilt should be a part of prenatal care for treatment of lumbar pain in pregnancy