Association of self‐reported physical fitness with pain during pregnancy: The GESTAFIT Project

Aims To explore the association of self‐reported physical fitness with bodily, lumbar and sciatic pain, and pain disability during pregnancy. Methods The present study sample comprised 159 pregnant women (32.9 ± 4.7 years old). Self‐reported physical fitness was assessed with the International Fitness Scale (IFIS), where higher scores indicate greater physical fitness. Bodily pain was assessed with the 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36), where higher scores indicate lower pain. Lumbar and sciatic pain were measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS). The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire was employed to assess the disability resulting from pain. Measures were assessed at 16th and 34th gestational weeks (g. w.). Results Pregnant women showed low‐moderate pain during pregnancy course. Most of them showed medium self‐reported overall physical fitness. At 16th g. w., greater self‐reported overall physical fitness and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with less bodily and lumbar pain, and pain disability (all, P