Low back pain (LBP) is a universal public health problem for all age groups, related to the upright stance of humans. Postpartum LBP is more common and can lead to limitations to women’s daily activity. Knowledge about preventing postpartum LBP is limited, and the relationship between prenatal physical activity (PA) and LBP remains inconclusive. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1807 singleton pregnant Vietnamese women to investigate the association between prenatal PA and postpartum LBP using logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of postpartum LBP was 12.3% (n = 222). Women reporting LBP spent more hours sitting per week. Relative to the lowest level of total PA, the highest level was associated with reduced odds of postpartum LBP (odds ratio = 0.55; 95% confidence interval = 0.38-0.80). Inverse associations with LBP were also observed for light intensity, moderate-to-vigorous intensity, household/caregiving, occupational, and transportation activities. Overall, prenatal PA was inversely associated with postpartum LBP in Vietnamese women.
GBD 2015 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet. 2016;388:1545-1602.
2.
CooklinARAmirLHJarmanJCullinaneMDonathSM; CASTLE Study Team. Maternal physical health symptoms in the first 8 weeks postpartum among primiparous Australian women. Birth. 2015;42:254-260.
3.
SalzbergL.The physiology of low back pain. Prim Care. 2012;39:487-498.
4.
Nilsson-WikmarLPiloCPahlbäckMHarms-RingdahlK.Perceived pain and self-estimated activity limitations in women with back pain post-partum. Physiother Res Int. 2003;8:23-35.
5.
BergströmCPerssonMNergårdKAMogrenI.Prevalence and predictors of persistent pelvic girdle pain 12 years postpartum. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017;18:399.
6.
IwataHMoriEMaeharaKSakajoAAokiKTamakoshiK.Shoulder stiffness, back pain, and wrist pain: are older primiparas more vulnerable?Int J Nurs Pract. 2018;24(suppl 1):e12654.
7.
2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report. Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services; 2018.
8.
CampelloMNordinMWeiserS.Physical exercise and low back pain. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1996;6:63-72.
9.
SteffensDMaherCGPereiraLSM, et al. Prevention of low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176:199-208.
10.
DavenportMHMarchandAAMottolaMF, et al. Exercise for the prevention and treatment of low back, pelvic girdle and lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53:90-98.
11.
Nilsson-WikmarLHolmKÖijerstedtRHarms-RingdahlK.Effect of three different physical therapy treatments on pain and activity in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain: a randomized clinical trial with 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up postpartum. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005;30:850-856.
12.
HaakstadLAHBøK. Effect of a regular exercise programme on pelvic girdle and low back pain in previously inactive pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2015;47:229-234.
13.
AsleshOPMayamolPSumaRKUshaKSheebaGJayasreeAK.Level of physical activity in population aged 16 to 65 years in rural Kerala, India. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2016;28(1 suppl):53S-61S.
14.
NguyenCLNguyenPTHChuTK, et al. Cohort profile: maternal lifestyle and diet in relation to pregnancy, postpartum and infant health outcomes in Vietnam: a multicentre prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2017;7:e016794.
15.
CooklinARAmirLHNguyenCD, et al. Physical health, breastfeeding problems and maternal mood in the early postpartum: a prospective cohort study. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2018;21:365-374.
16.
OtaEHarunaMYanaiH, et al. Reliability and validity of the Vietnamese version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2008;39:562-570.
17.
Chasan-TaberLSchmidtMDHosmerDRobertsDEFreedsonPSMarkensonG.Development and validation of a Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36:1750-1760.
18.
Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a WHO Expert Committee. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 1995;854:1-452.
19.
Institute of Medicine. Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2009.
20.
Van DinhTVan DongHNguyenTCLeeAH.Validity and reliability of a food frequency questionnaire to assess habitual dietary intake in Northern Vietnam. Vietnam J Public Health. 2013;1:57-64.
21.
NguyenCLPhamNMLeeAH, et al. Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with a lower prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Vietnam. Acta Diabetol. 2018;55:955-962.
22.
MogrenIM.Physical activity and persistent low back pain and pelvic pain post partum. BMC Public Health. 2008;8:417.
23.
ShiriRKarppinenJLeino-ArjasPSolovievaSViikari-JunturaE.The association between obesity and low back pain: a meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 2010;171:135-154.
24.
StataCorp. Stata Statistical Software: Release 15 [computer program]. College Station, TX: StataCorp LLC; 2017.
25.
OstgaardCHAnderssonBJG. Postpartum low-back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1992;17:53-55.
26.
TurgutFTurgutMÇetinşahinM.A prospective study of persistent back pain after pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol. 1998;80:45-48.
27.
HanklangSKaewboonchooOSilpasuwanPMungarndeeSS.Musculoskeletal disorders among Thai women in construction-related work. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2014;26:196-202.
28.
KopecAJSayreCEEsdaileMJ.Predictors of back pain in a general population cohort. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2004;29:70-78.
29.
HeneweerHVanheesLPicavetHSJ. Physical activity and low back pain: a U-shaped relation?Pain. 2009;143:21-25.
30.
CollCDominguesMSantosIMatijasevichAHortaBLHallalPC.Changes in leisure-time physical activity from the prepregnancy to the postpartum period: 2004 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study. J Phys Act Health. 2016;13:361-365.
