Meeting exercise guidelines during pregnancy associates with less lumbopelvic disability and fear avoidance

Background: Sixty-three percent of pregnant persons report experiencing lumbopelvic pain (LPP), which can negatively impact quality of life and lead to the development of fear avoidance behaviors. Exercise is a safe, non-pharmacological treatment for reducing and preventing the development of pain, but the volume of exercise required for one to benefit from it is unknown. Objectives: Determine whether meeting exercise guidelines during pregnancy associates with LPP, disability, and fear avoidance behaviors. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Pregnant persons ( n = 50, 32.0 ± 4.2 years, 28–32 weeks of gestation) were included. Participants completed questionnaires assessing second-trimester physical activity (PPAQ), current pain, lumbopelvic disability, and fear avoidance and then underwent a physical examination for the presence of LPP. Participants who met exercise guidelines (>150 min moderate intensity physical activity/week, PA, n = 24) were compared with those who were not physically active (<90 min moderate intensity physical activity/week, NPA, n = 26). Nonparametric tests compared groups on outcomes with significance set at p < 0.05. Post hoc odds ratios were calculated for moderate disability status. Spearman’s rho correlations were conducted between physical activity (MET min/week), pain, and disability. Results: NPA participants reported more disability due to LPP ( p = 0.02), more fear avoidance behaviors ( p = 0.03), and more provoked LPP ( p = 0.09) than PA participants. NPA participants were also more likely to report LPP disability (OR = 3.89, 95% CI: 1.19–12.68) and fear avoidance behaviors (OR = 4.38, 95% CI: 1.03–18.56). In all participants, more moderate intensity physical activities were associated with less disability ( ps < 0.05) and fewer fear avoidance behaviors ( p = 0.06). Pain severity did not differ between groups ( ps > 0.05). Conclusion: Meeting pregnancy exercise guidelines throughout the second trimester associated with less LPP disability, fewer fear avoidance behaviors, and less-provoked pain, but did not associate with pain severity.