Risk factors for back pain, posture and balance changes in pregnancy

• Grant number: 12/24112-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Adriano Dias
• Grantee: Adriano Dias
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Eliana Aguiar Petri Nahás

Abstract

Biomechanical changes in pregnancy could contribute to lumbar lordosis. The prevalence of low back pain during pregnancy undergoes a variations between 54% to 87%. Due to the high prevalence, there was a need for further investigations of symptoms, and especially the possible factors contributing to this occurrence. Objectives: estimate the prevalence of low back pain and risks factors with occurrence in pregnant women who do the prenatal clinic of the Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School - UNESP; evaluate and compare lumbar lordosis, shifting the center of force and center of plantar pressure in pregnant women with and without low back pain, estimating what limitations and restrictions imposed these changes to pregnant women. Method: Pregnant women will be followed until onset of back pain, when the cohorts of exposure and reference will be defined. The following will evaluate and compare lumbar lordosis, the displacement of the center of force and plantar pressure between groups of pregnant until the end of pregnancy estimating limitations and restrictions that changes impose to pregnant women. Expected results: It is expected that the results of this project help in improving the knowledge of low back pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy, reverberating also in clinical practice. (AU)