Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain: Physiotherapy, functional disability, and quality of life
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i9.1320Keywords:
Pregnancy; Pelvic Girdle Pain; Exercise Therapy; Disability Evaluation; Quality of Life.Abstract
Introduction: Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain may interfere with daily activities; pain intensity, functional disability, and quality of life are distinct outcomes. Objective: To critically examine evidence on physiotherapy for pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain and its effects on functional disability and quality of life. Methods: This narrative review used PubMed searches and an external web search engine to locate articles in the SciELO Brazil collection through September 26, 2026. Sources were selected for clinical relevance, design, and outcomes, with full-text reading of those used in the synthesis. Results: Therapeutic exercise showed favorable pain findings at six to twelve weeks, whereas functional effects were less consistent. Brazilian studies located in SciELO added evidence on interventions and functional assessment. Exercise plus education outperformed education alone in a synthesis of trials; confidence intervals for pelvic belts included no effect. Quality of life was assessed less often. Conclusion: Therapeutic exercise may reduce pain in symptomatic pregnant women; disability effects vary by comparator and follow-up. A uniform global quality of life benefit and a single superior protocol have not been demonstrated.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ellen Araujo Santos, Gabriela Sarnacki Zaitter, Larissa Frazão Torres, Renata Araujo Cardoso, Giusara Zuley Curvelo Rosado (Autor)
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