Spinal Curvature Kinematics of Stair Ascending for the Second and the Third Trimesters of Simulated Pregnancy in a Month by Month Basis

Pregnant women may adopt some postural adjustments, especially in the lumbar and thoracic regions of the spinal column, in order to cope with the weight gained during pregnancy to improve the stability. Stair climbing is one of the daily activity pregnant women performs almost everywhere they present. The objective of the current study is to investigate stair ascending spinal curvature kinematics in simulated pregnancy during the second and the third trimesters in a month by month basis. Compared to nonpregnant, simulated pregnancy in the 9th month show significantly greater thoracic angle (P=0.005). The 7th,8th, and 9th month of simulated pregnancy shows greater lumbar angles with P values of 0.033, 0.01, and 0.046, respectively, compared to non-pregnant. The increase of lumbar extension Angle maybe adopted in order to relocate the position of the center of gravity posteriorly in response to the anteriorly added mass to improve stability.