Effectiveness of Prenatal Yoga in Reducing Back Pain Among Third-Trimester Pregnant Women: A Literature Review

Background: Back pain is one of the common discomforts experienced by pregnant women, particularly during the third trimester, due to changes in body posture, increased body weight, and hormonal changes during pregnancy. Prenatal yoga is a non-pharmacological intervention that may help reduce back pain during pregnancy. Purpose: This literature review aimed to analyze the effectiveness of prenatal yoga in reducing back pain among third-trimester pregnant women. Methods: This literature review identified, examined, and analyzed original research articles on prenatal yoga and back pain among third-trimester pregnant women. The literature search was conducted through Google Scholar and PubMed using the keywords “Prenatal Yoga,” “Back Pain,” “Third-Trimester Pregnant Women,” and “Pregnancy.” Articles published between 2021 and 2026, available in full text, written in Indonesian or English, and addressing the effect of prenatal yoga on back pain among third-trimester pregnant women were included. The selection process referred to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Nine articles met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. The included studies used experimental and quasi-experimental designs and involved pregnant women, particularly those in the third trimester. The reviewed studies consistently reported reductions in back pain following prenatal yoga, with statistically significant findings. The findings were observed across different sample sizes, study designs, and pain assessment methods. Conclusions: Prenatal yoga may be used as a non-pharmacological intervention to help reduce back pain and improve comfort among third-trimester pregnant women.