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Specific Musculoskeletal Adaptations in Pregnancy: Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Girdle, and Low Back Pain: Implications for Physical Activity and Exercise

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Exercise and Sporting Activity During Pregnancy

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Abstract

Pregnancy and childbirth bring along several changes to a woman’s body, especially to the musculoskeletal system. Pregnancy represents a window of opportunity for the adoption of an active and healthy lifestyle, but it is also a risk period for musculoskeletal disorders, impairments, and other discomforts. This chapter addresses the evidence-based knowledge on the most prevalent pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (urinary incontinence), diastasis recti abdominis, pregnancy-related low back pain, and/or pelvic girdle pain, since these factors are reported to have a negative effect on daily activities. The chapter also provides recommendations for treatment of such disorders and guidance on how to recover functional capacity.

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Further Reading

  • Fitzgerald CM, Segal NA, editors. Musculoskeletal health in pregnancy and postpartum. Cham: Springer; 2015.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway

    Kari Bø

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway

    Kari Bø

  3. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Britt Stuge

  4. Department of Physiotherapy, OsloMet-Oslo Metropolitan University (Former: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences), Oslo, Norway

    Gunvor Hilde

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  1. Kari Bø
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Correspondence to Kari Bø .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal

    Rita Santos-Rocha

  2. Laboratory of Biomechanics and Functional Morphology, Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Cruz Quebrada-Dafundo, Portugal

    Rita Santos-Rocha

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Bø, K., Stuge, B., Hilde, G. (2019). Specific Musculoskeletal Adaptations in Pregnancy: Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Girdle, and Low Back Pain: Implications for Physical Activity and Exercise. In: Santos-Rocha, R. (eds) Exercise and Sporting Activity During Pregnancy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91032-1_6

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