EXERCISE, POSTURE, AND BACK PAIN DURING PREGNANCY .1. EXERCISE AND POSTURE

One of the expected benefits of exercise programmes for pregnant women is to reduce or prevent back pain by improving posture. The aim of th is project was to evaluate the effect of fitness classes for pregnant women on posture and back pain. In this article, postural aspects are reported. Sixty five pregnant volunteers were included in the study, o f whom 27 were enrolled in exercise classes designed according to Cana dian guidelines and 38 acted as sedentary controls. Posture was assess ed every 4 weeks during pregnancy and 4 months postpartum by measuring curvatures of the lumbar and thoracic spines in a standard relaxed st anding position from lateral photographs. Laxity of knee ligaments was also monitored using a clinical arthrometer. Weight gain could explai n part of lordosis increase during pregnancy but the effect was not ve ry strong. No effect of exercise on posture was detected. Relevance Th is study showed that fitness classes for pregnant women designed accor ding to Canadian guidelines had no detectable effect on posture during pregnancy.