Lumbopelvic pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint during pregnancy, affecting 24% to 90% of pregnant women. Although often considered a normal part of pregnancy, it can negatively impact quality of life, daily activities, sleep, and mental health. Regular physical activity helps reduce pain intensity and improves maternal and fetal outcomes. However, many pregnant women face barriers to exercise, including fear of movement, known as kinesiophobia, which can lead to avoidance behaviors, functional decline, and reduced adherence to rehabilitation.

To descriptively compare kinesiophobia levels between pregnant women with and without lumbopelvic pain in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Twenty pregnant women were assigned to two groups of ten: those with and without lumbopelvic pain. The inclusion criteria required participants to be in the third trimester of a singleton pregnancy and at least 18 years old. Exclusion criteria included reliance on assistive devices for walking, neurological disorders affecting mobility, previous spinal or lower limb surgeries, inflammatory conditions in the lower back or lower limbs, and contraindications to physical activity. Data collection included sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical variables. Kinesiophobia was assessed using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia. Pain intensity was measured with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and disability due to low back pain and pelvic pain was evaluated using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and the Pregnancy Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire, respectively. Due to the small sample size, differences between groups were analyzed descriptively, without statistical tests.

The average age was 32.6 ± 6.5 years in the pain-free group and 30.7 ± 4.9 years in the pain group. Gestational age was 34 weeks and 0.2 days ± 3 weeks and 2 days in the pain-free group and 35 weeks and 6.2 days ± 2 weeks and 2.7 days in the pain group. Participants in the pain group reported a mean score of 5.75 ± 1.5 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and Pregnancy Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire showed mean scores of 10.7 ± 7.2 (indicating low disability levels) and 47.7 ± 22.5 (indicating moderate disability levels) in the pain group, respectively. Regarding kinesiophobia levels, a descriptive analysis revealed similar scores in both groups: 28.7 ± 5.9 in the pain-free group and 30.7 ± 7.5 in the pain group, indicating high kinesiophobia levels in both.

In this descriptive and preliminary analysis, pregnant women with lumbopelvic pain exhibited kinesiophobia levels similar to those without pain, with both groups presenting high levels. These findings suggest that pregnancy may be a critical period for the development or manifestation of kinesiophobia. However, caution is needed due to the small sample size, and further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

This study enhances the understanding of kinesiophobia levels in pregnant women with and without lumbopelvic pain, highlighting its relevance in pain management strategies. Recognizing kinesiophobia as a potential barrier to physical activity is essential for developing targeted interventions that promote movement, reduce disability, and improve overall maternal well-being during pregnancy.