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Lower back pain and lordosis are among the most common complications during pregnancy; their frequency in pregnant women is 4 times that in non-pregnant women [1]. The present study evaluated the effect of exercise on back pain during pregnancy. Inclusion criteria were maternal age of 20–30 years; nulliparity; gestational age of 16 weeks (according to reliable last menstrual period and ultrasound confirmation in the first trimester); and no regular exercise before entering the study. Exclusion criteria were any kind of systemic disorder or drug use; any previous trauma, surgery, or damage to the spine or lower limbs; any complications of pregnancy such as preterm labor, abortion, or pelvic pain; and absence from the study exercise program on at least 3 occasions. All eligible women completed the Roland–Morris questionnaire [2], and lordosis was measured using a flexible ruler and the formula ϴ= 4×[arctan (2H/L)](Fig. 1); these measurements were repeated after 1 and 2 months.

The participants were randomly assigned to either the study group or the control group. In the study group (n= 15), there was an initial 1-hour training session in which 7 main exercises—together with preparation and relaxation movements—were taught to the participants, who then performed 30 minutes of exercise 3 times per week