The effect of a childbirth preparation program including posture correction and stretching movements on lordosis and lumbar pain.

Aim: The study aimed at evaluating the effect of posture correction and stretching movements on lordosis and lumbar pain in pregnant women. Background: An increased lumbar lordosis during pregnancy is considered one of the most common causes of lumbar pain. Methods: This quasi‐experimental study was performed on 66 pregnant women referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran, from November 2020 to June 2021. The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received training of posture correction movements and stretching exercises during pregnancy from 16 to 18 to 35–37 weeks of pregnancy in six sessions for 45–60 min. The data were collected using a flexible ruler and a visual analog scale. Independent t‐tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and ANCOVA tests were used. Results: The mean (standard deviation: SD) of lumbar lordosis increased from 45.12 (2.07) to 54.97 (2.20) in the intervention group at 35–37 weeks and changed from 44.28 (2.03) to 55.54 (3.39) in the control group at 35–37 weeks (adjusted mean difference: −1.24, 95% confidence interval: −2.48 to −0.005, P = 0.04). The mean (SD) of lumbar pain at 28–30 weeks was 2.80 (1.72) in the intervention group and 3.74 (2.23) in the control group (P = 0.09). However, the mean (SD) of lumbar pain at 35–37 weeks in the intervention group 4.38 (2.45) was significantly lower than that in the control group 5.83 (2.96) (P = 0.04). Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the potential health benefits of training posture correction and stretching movements on controlling lumbar lordosis and reducing lumbar pain during pregnancy. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? One of the most common causes of low back pain refers to the enhancement of lumbar lordosis.The standard corrective movements and stretching exercises approved during pregnancy increase muscular strength and reduce the severity of lordosis if they are done regularly. What this paper adds? This is the first study that investigates the impact of a childbirth preparation program including posture correction and stretching movements on lordosis and lumbar pain in pregnant women.The findings indicate that the posture correction movements and stretching exercises delivered in childbirth preparation classes are effective in controlling the enhancement of lumbar lordosis during pregnancy and reducing lumbar pain. The implications of this paper: Training of posture correction and stretching movements during pregnancy is recommended for all pregnant women with no contraindication to exercise during pregnancy and even for women with a history of caesarean section who may decline to participate in the preparation classes for physiological birth.Evidence‐based posture correction/exercise guidelines during pregnancy should be developed and embedded in prenatal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]