Combined Effect of Prenatal Stretching and Kinesiotaping in Pregnant Women With Low Back Pain

Summary

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent complaint during pregnancy, affecting 50-70% of women, especially in the second and third trimesters. Physiological and biomechanical changes such as hormonal relaxation of ligaments, postural shifts, and increased lumbar lordosis contribute to this condition. LBP during pregnancy can significantly limit mobility, reduce daily activity levels, and impair the quality of life. Conservative interventions like prenatal stretching and kinesiotaping are commonly used by physiotherapists. Stretching improves flexibility and reduces musculoskeletal stress, while kinesiotaping offers support, reduces pain perception, and promotes better posture. However, there is limited clinical evidence evaluating their combined effect in pregnant women with LBP.

This study will be randomized controlled trial and will be conducted at Rahim Yar Khan hospital and Hamdani Hospital Rahim Yar khan .Non-probability convenience sampling technique will be used. Inclusion criteria include Gestational age 20 -34 weeks with low back pain and age between 18-35 years .Baseline measurement include pain (measured by using 10 cm Numeric Pain rating scale ) mobility (measured by Schober Test) quality of life( SF36 questionaire). Participant will be randomly assigned to either Group A (stretching exercise and kinesiotaping) and Group B (Stretching exercise ). The total duration of the study will be 6 to 8 weeks. After identifying eligible pregnant women, obtaining informed consent, and recording baseline measurements from both groups intervention period will begin, during which participants will receive prenatal stretching and kinesiotaping. After data collection all data analysis will be performed using SPSS version 21.

Conditions

• Pain
• Mobility
• Quality of Life

Interventions

OTHER

Stretching exercises and kinisiotaping

Participants in Group A will receive a combined intervention of: Prenatal Stretching Exercises: Performed under supervision three times per week. Each session will last approximately 30 minutes, focusing on lumbar and pelvic flexibility and relieving low back pain. Kinesiotaping: Applied to the lumbar region by a certified professional using standard kinesiotaping techniques. The tape will remain in place for 3 to 5 days and will be reapplied regularly for the entire 4 to 6-week intervention period.

OTHER

Stretching exercises

• Participants in Group B will receive only prenatal stretching exercises o Three sessions per week, each of 30 minutes, targeting lumbar and pelvic muscles. During the intervention period, participants in both groups will be monitored regularly to ensure adherence to the treatment protocol and to identify any adverse effects or complications. At the end of the intervention period (4 to 6 weeks), all participants will undergo a post-intervention assessment using the same tools:

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Masooma Saleem, MSPT WH · Riphah International University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-31

Primary Completion

2026-09-30

Completion

2026-09-30

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations