Objectives: To examine the effects of a physical exercise program on low back pain during pregnancy

Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the antenatal care department, Narathiwasrajanagarindra Hospital. Sixty primiparous pregnant women with a gestational age of 20 weeks were selected and assigned to a control group (n=30) experimental group (n=30) consecutively. The experimental group received an exercise program and the control group received regular nursing care. The research instruments included: 1) the exercise program 2) a slide presentation 3) a handbook 4) a visual analogue scale, and 5) a picture of the pain area. Demographic and obstetric data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: The number of patients experiencing low back pain in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.001). The level of the mean rank of low back pain of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The physical exercise program can reduce low back pain in pregnant women. Therefore, the program can be used to promote exercise in pregnant women.