NCT03765853

Brief Summary

Lower back pain (LBP) during pregnancy is a frequent syndrome: it concerns two thirds of pregnant women. This complaint isn't routinely searched for and therefore underdiagnosed. Furthermore, few solutions are given to these women in order to reduce their pain, and indirectly to improve everyday life. What's more, LBP is the cause of many work interruptions. Physical exercise during pregnancy is recommended by the National College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians for low risk pregnancies. Several techniques have proven to be efficient. The main objective of our study is to assess the benefit of regular practice of standardised Stretching Postural® postures in patients presenting "de novo" lower back pain during pregnancy. The Stretching Postural® technique comprises of static postures involving muscular contractions and stretches. This allows the strengthening of the postural muscles, including the paravertebral muscles. After a short learning period, postures can be done autonomously by the patients. The postures are adaptable to each and everyone's morphology and physical limitations. Our study is an open, prospective, randomised monocentric superiority trial in parallel branches involving major patients during low risk pregnancies. These women suffer from "de novo" lower back pain during the second and third trimesters of their pregnancies. Each patient will be randomly assigned to one of the following 2 groups:

  • Stretching Postural® group (group A): usual prevention methods (ergonomic education) and Stretching Postural® postures.
  • "Control" group (group B): usual prevention methods only. Patients presenting "de novo" LBP are included in the study after a routine consult then randomly separated into two groups. During the initial consult, the physician assesses inclusion and judgement criteria, collects informed consent from the patients and teaches them the usual prevention methods as well as, concerning group A, Stretching Postural® postures. Computerized support agendas are given in order to improve observance. Patients are evaluated at day 0 (initial evaluation), after 4 weeks (intermediate) and after 8 weeks (final), according to the main judgment criterion, as well as on secondary pain criteria by the Concise Pain Questionnaire, on their quality of life, the rate of work interruptions and their satisfaction rate. Neonatal outcome is collected at birth. Intermediate phone interviews will allow psychological support and improve observance. Inclusion is scheduled to last 22 months; each subject will be followed during a period of 2 months. The total duration of the study is 2 years. Expected results are a decrease in back pain and an improvement of the quality of life in group A. Decrease in pain scale, equivalent to overall pain during the last week between the two groups will be our main judgment criterion. In order to detect a difference of 1.5 pain scale points (on a scale from 1 to 10) with an alpha risk of 5%, 80% magnitude and a standard deviation of 2, 56 subjects are necessary; 28 in each group. Perspectives: This study will allow for a better diagnosis of lower back pain during pregnancy, and, consequently, for the implementation of routine means of care such as collective or private lessons in Stretching Postural® and the supply of personalised prevention documents.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
60

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2018

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 1, 2018

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

December 4, 2018

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 5, 2018

Completed
1.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 22, 2020

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 22, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

May 8, 2026

Status Verified

August 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

1.9 years

First QC Date

December 4, 2018

Last Update Submit

May 4, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in Lower Back Pain

    Evaluated on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0 = No pain to 10 = Worst possible pain). This scale, validated, is a self-assessment of the average pain felt during the last week collecting by an evaluation questionnaire. It's part of Concise Pain Questionnaire's questions.

    2 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Assessment of the analgesic efficacity on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale representing the average pain on the last week at 4 weeks.

    week 4

Study Arms (2)

Stretching Postural®

OTHER
Other: Physiotherapy

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Usual prevention methods (ergonomic education) and Stretching Postural® postures.

Stretching Postural®

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Pregnant patients between 15 and 32 amenorrhea at the beginning of the study
  • Absence of pre existing major lower back pain
  • Back or lumbar pain and/or sacroiliac
  • Good understanding of French
  • BMI before pregnancy \<35
  • singletons
  • Low risk pregnancy : no maternal and foetal major pathology (absence of professional risk, no antecedent of obstetric pathology, major gynecological pathology, exposure to toxic, important medical risk factors, infectious disease)
  • Possibility to listen a computer audio
  • Patient having accepted to participate to the study and having signed informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

  • Physical handicap not allowing the change of positions in autonomy
  • Severe cardiac, lung,hepatic, rheumatological pathology
  • Sciatic without LPB (Low Back Pain), motor deficit or slipped disc
  • High risk pregnancy
  • maternal plan : antecedent of late miscarriage, cervix cerclage, disease having an impact on pregnancy, unbalanced diabetes insulin.
  • foetal plan : multiple pregnancy, severe intrauterine growth retardation, severe foetal pathology.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique - Hôpital Nord

Marseille, Marseille Cedex, 13915, France

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Barbier M, Blanc J, Faust C, Baumstarck K, Ranque-Garnier S, Bretelle F. Standardized Stretching Postural postures to treat low-back pain in pregnancy: the GEMALODO randomized clinical trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2023 Oct;5(10):101087. doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101087. Epub 2023 Jul 11.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Interventions

Physical Therapy Modalities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back PainPainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

TherapeuticsRehabilitation

Study Officials

  • Jean Olivier Arnaud, Director

    Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille

    STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

December 4, 2018

First Posted

December 5, 2018

Study Start

November 1, 2018

Primary Completion

September 22, 2020

Study Completion

September 22, 2020

Last Updated

May 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2022-08

Locations