Exercise, posture, and back pain during pregnancy : Part 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 this 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, of whom 27 were enrolled in exercise classes designed according to Canadian guidelines and 38 acted as sedentary controls. Posture was assessed every 4 weeks during pregnancy and 4 months postpartum by measuring curvatures of the lumbar and thoracic spines in a standard relaxed standing position from lateral photographs. Laxity of knee ligaments was also monitored using a clinical arthrometer. Weight gain could explain part of lordosis increase during pregnancy but the effect was not very strong. No effect of exercise on posture was detected.