Review of physical exercise as treatment for low back pain in pregnant women

Low back pain (LBP) in pregnant women can have a negative impact on daily activities, reduce quality of life and increase absenteeism from work. Despite its high prevalence, ranging from 13.2 to 80%, it is estimated that more than 50% of pregnant women receive little or no intervention from healthcare professionals, and it is often mistakenly considered as a normal phenomenon. Given the side effects of pharmacological treatment of LBP in pregnant women, and the fact that physical exercise during pregnancy has been shown to be effective in reducing the intensity of LBP, the aim of this article is to raise awareness among primary care physicians so that they prescribe physical exercise to pregnant women with LBP and avoid physical inactivity as a consequence of LBP, as this can lead to a higher incidence of obstetric complications and caesarean section. (c) 2024 Sociedad Espanola de Medicos de Atencion Primaria (SEMERGEN). Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.