| This study assessed the effect of a maternity lumbopelvic support on back pain in pregnant women over a four-week period. A single subject experimental design included four women in their third trimester of pregnancy who were referred to physical therapy for generalized back pain.; Visual Analog scales and revised Oswestry questionnaires were used to evaluate pain and function through a one-week baseline period. Subjects then received standard physical therapy care with the introduction of a brace at that time or two weeks later and collected the same data. Statistical analyses included: visual analysis, calculation of celeration lines and split middle technique, binomial tests and the two standard deviation band method.; The results indicated a significant improvement in pain and function in two of the four subjects. Scores improved with the addition of the brace in subjects with a diagnosis of sacroiliac joint pain. The study suggests that use of a lumbpelvic brace in combination with standard physical therapy care indicates promise for functional improvement and pain relief. Testing its effectiveness in a larger group is advocated. |
