KUMJ | VOL. 24 | NO. 3 | ISSUE 96 | JULY-SEPTEMBER, 2026

Musculoskeletal Discomforts among Third Trimester Pregnant Women: Prevalence, Pain Types, and Correlations
Shrestha A, Khadgi B, Dhoju A

Abstract:
Background Pregnancy- induced hormonal and biomechanical changes give rise to variety of musculoskeletal discomforts during pregnancy. These issues may affect daily activities and overall quality of life, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. Early identification is the crucial step for timely management in order to prevent discomfort from becoming chronic. Objective To identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomforts among third trimester pregnant women along with their aggravating and relieving factors. Moreover, it also explored the relationship between those discomforts and factors such as parity, body mass index, occupation and gestational week. Method An analytical cross sectional study was conducted during June 2024 to January 2025 among 150 pregnant women in their third trimester. Data was collected using structured questionnaire that included demographic and obstetric information and a body pain diagram to identify the pain sites. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The spearman rank correlation was used to assess the relationship between the musculoskeletal discomfort and selected variables. Result A total of 150 third trimester pregnant women (mean age 27.61 ± 4.48 years) participated in the study. Musculoskeletal discomforts were reported by 69.3% with low back pain being most common (59.6%). Night time, prolong walking and standing frequently aggravated symptoms while bedrest provided relief. A weak positive correlation was observed with body mass index (r=0.237, p= 0.004) and gestational week (r=0.234, p=0.004) with no significant association with parity or occupation. Conclusion Musculoskeletal discomfort, especially low back pain, is common in late pregnancy. Early recognition will guide early management and management should focus on integrating educational programs and targeted exercises to reduce their occurrence as part of Antenatal care.
Keyword : Antenatal care, Musculoskeletal pain, Pregnancy trimester, Prevalence