Pelvic floor muscles in primigravidae are not as strong as those in nonpregnant nulliparous women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:To evaluate and compare the presence and size of recti abdominis diastasis in the second and third gestational trimester and to correlate them to lumbar pain incidence and intensity. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional observational study with 128 pregnant women divided in two groups: 53 pregnant women in the second gestational trimester and 75 pregnant women in the third gestational trimester. Lumbar pain was evaluated with Roland Morris questionnaire and Pain Visual Analog Scale. Recti abdominis diastasis was measured with a caliper rule. Data were analyzed according to Spearman correlation and Mann--Whitney U test. RESULTS:Comparison between groups has shown that pregnant women in the third gestational trimester had more recti abdominis diastasis, more reports of severe lumbar pain by the visual analog scale (p=0.0017) and further impact on daily life activities (p=0.0012). There has been positive correlation between recti abdominis diastasis size and scores obtained by Roland Morris questionnaire and visual analog scale. CONCLUSION: Recti abdominis diastasis size, pain intensity and incapacity determined by low back pain were more severe in pregnant women in the third gestational trimester. Keywords: Low back pain, Physiotherapy, Pregnant women, Quality of life, Rectus abdominis. RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS:Avaliar e comparar a ocorrência e dimensão da diástase dos músculos retos abdominais nos segundo e terceiro trimestres gestacionais e correlacioná-las com presença e intensidade da dor lombar. Does abdominal diastasis influence lumbar pain during gestation?A MÉTODOS:Estudo observacional do tipo transversal com 128 gestantes, divididas em dois grupos: 53 gestantes no segundo trimestre gestacional e 75 gestantes no terceiro trimestre gestacional. Utilizou-se para avaliar a dor lombar o questionário Roland Morris e a escala analógica visual da dor. A mensuração da diás-tase dos músculos retos abdominais foi realizada com auxílio de um paquímetro. Os dados foram analisados segundo a correlação de Spearman e teste U de Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS: A comparação dos grupos demonstrou que as gestantes do terceiro trimestre apresentavam maior diástase abdominal, mais relatos de dor lombar intensa por meio da escala analógica visual p=0,0017 e maior impacto nas atividades da vida diária (p=0,0012). A correlação foi positiva entre a dimensão da diástase dos músculos retos abdominais e os escores obtidos no questionário Roland Morris e na escala analógica visual. CONCLUSÃO: A dimensão da diástase dos músculos retos abdominais, a intensidade da dor e a incapacidade determinadas pela lombalgia foram maiores nas gestantes do terceiro trimestre gestacional. Descritores: Dor lombar, Fisioterapia, Gestantes, Qualidade de vida, Reto do abdômen. INTRODUCTIONWomen go through hormonal and biochemical changes during gestation 1 . Uterus in constant growth due to increased fetal size protrudes the abdomen and favors anterior gravity center displacement 2 . These changes progressively increase...

Primigravid women exhibited worse sexual function and lower PFM strength than non-pregnant women. Women who had higher FSFI scores demonstrated greater PFM strength.

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