Location of Pregnancy-Related & Postpartum Back Pain & Limitations of Daily Activities & Work Participation

This week’s Research Review is from my friend Dr. Carol Ann Weis an her colleagues, who present a fresh take on the location of back pain during pregnancy and what that might mean to us as clinicians…

Back pain is a common issue during pregnancy and has been associated with limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) and ability to work. Existing research on this topic has generally disregarded the location of the pain, although recent evidence suggests that pregnancy-related back pain can be classified as follows: 1) pregnancy-related low back pain (LBP) from the bottom of the ribs to the top of the iliac crests; 2) pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) from the top of the iliac crests to the gluteal folds; 3) combined pain, when pregnancy-related LBP and PGP are experienced at the same time. Up to 40% of patients continue to experience pregnancy-related LBP after delivery and individuals whose pain does not resolve within 3-6 months postpartum have a greater likelihood of developing persistent pain.

Studies looking at the effect of work-related activities, such as workload, on pregnancy tend to focus on gestational outcomes (i.e. low birth weight, preterm delivery, and miscarriage), and very few studies look at health outcomes for pregnant women following delivery. Previous research suggests that various types of back pain may have different effects on ADLs, ability to work, and persistence of symptoms postpartum. Women reporting PGP and combined pain tend to experience a more significant impact of health and function, including higher levels of pain, disability, and absence from work either during or after pregnancy.

This study aimed to explore the association between the locations of pregnancy-related back pain and the impact on ADLs, work participation, and persistence of back pain postpartum within a Canadian population.

RESEARCH REVIEW: Location of Pregnancy-Related & Postpartum Back Pain & Limitations of Daily Activities & Work Participation

This paper was published in JMPT (2023)

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