The Impact of Sedentary Behavior After Childbirth on Postpartum Lumbopelvic Pain Prolongation: A Follow-Up Cohort Study

Background: A substantial number of women have postpartum lumbopelvic pain (LBPP). Additionally, many postpartum women stay for long inactivity. Therefore, we examined the impact of sedentary behavior on persistent postpartum LBPP and the difference in this impact due to parity. Materials and Methods: This cohort study followed up women who had reported LBPP at 4 months postpartum and divided them into the presence or absence of LBPP at 10 months postpartum. Sedentary time and physical activity were assessed at 4 months postpartum using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate persistent LBPP odds ratios (ORs) according to sedentary times, followed by stratification analysis by parity. The institutional review board approval was obtained. Results: A total of 182 women (32.1 +/- 5.1 years old) were included for analysis and 112 (61.5%) participants had persistent LBPP at 10 months postpartum. Those with persistent LBPP at 10 months postpartum had increased sedentary time (5.0 [3.0-7.0] hours vs. 3.5 [2.0-6.0] hours, p = 0.05) at 4 months compared with those without LBPP. Even after adjusting for confounding factors, longer sedentary time at 4 months postpartum affected persistent LBPP at 10 months postpartum in primiparas (adjusted OR [95% confidence interval, CI] = 1.28 [1.05-1.55]), but longer sedentary time at 4 months postpartum did not affect persistent LBPP at 10 months postpartum in multiparas (adjusted OR [95% CI] = 0.96 [0.86-1.07]). Conclusion: Sedentary behavior after childbirth is associated with persistent postpartum LBPP in primiparas, but not multiparas. Reducing sedentary time might be beneficial to prevent persistent postpartum LBPP for primiparas.