The lack of knowledge regarding pain during pregnancy

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how pregnant women with lower back pain and/or pelvic girdle pain experience manual therapy and if it reduces pain. A review of available literature from 2010-2023 was made on PubMed and CINAHL. The articles included in the review have been evaluated using the CASP checklist and ethical evaluation protocol. Six qualitative articles containing 69 women were included. Only three articles included manual therapy in the objective; however, all articles discussed it to some degree. The articles were analysed, and the results emerged into four themes: living with LBP and/or PGP, the importance of support, the experience of treatment, and the importance of knowledge. The results showed that pregnant women with LBP and/or PGP seem to have positive experiences from manual therapy, and it shows a reduction in pain levels. More research is needed to gain better insight into pregnant women's experience of LBP and/or PGP receiving manual therapy.