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 ( 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.