Disability scores in high-risk pregnant women

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Currently, minimal research exists that demonstrates how pregnancy is related to level of disability. PURPOSE: Because of the common practice to prescribe bed rest to pregnancies classified as high-risk and the known effects of prolonged bed rest, this study aims to determine if there is a significant difference in disability scores between high-risk and non-high-risk pregnancies. METHODS: Pregnant women (n= 70) with a mean age 29.9 years and 26.1 weeks gestation completed a survey pertaining to neck and back pain, the Neck Disability Index (NDI),and the Modified Oswestry (MO) during regular obstetric check-ups. RESULTS: 17.1% of participants reported as high-risk and 82.9% reported non-complicated pregnancies. Results of a Kruskal-Wallis test revealed no significant difference in MO scores between the high-risk group (n=12, mean 19.6) and non-high-risk group (n=58, mean 15.4), (F=.092, p=.761), or in NDI scores with high-risk group (n=12, mean 24.6) and non-high-risk group (n=58, mean 16.6), (F=1.168, p=.280). CONCLUSION: There appears to be some difference in the levels of disability measured by both neck and back pain for women who are classified as high-risk compared to those who were not; however, the limited sample size prevented the study from showing a statistically significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, further research is needed to better determine if high-risk pregnancies cause increased pain and/or disability than non-high-risk pregnancies and to suggest appropriate interventions to address disability.