Self-analysis materials (e.g., photos, charts, study reports to interpret, questions to think about etc.)

1. Read the medical history of the second trimester 21 weeks pregnant woman with lower back pain.
2. Read the consultation from your gynecologist. (lower back pain is completely mechanical in origin and there is no specific underlying condition.)
3. Consider what you will do with this patient and then plan appropriate physiotherapy approaches.

Patient: Female, 28 years old, height 168 cm, body weight 63 kg, chemical engineer
Diagnosis: Pregnant woman with non-specific mechanical low back pain
Treatment: A healthy pregnant woman without any comorbidities who is followed up regularly by her gynecologist.
Reason for applying to a physiotherapist: Low back pain, additional limitation in physical activities during pregnancy and kinesiofobia.

Clinical examination:
Pain: yes
Edema: none
Lower limb mobility: normal
Assistive device use: none
Straight leg raise test: negative
Kinesiophobia: yes
Questionnaire result: Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11): The patient obtained a score of 20, which means excessive fear of movement.

Physiotherapy approaches:
-Wall-pushups
-Hip flexors stretch
-Mermaid stretch
-Pelvic Tilt Exercises
-Squats
-Side-lying leg lifts
-Bridging
-Cat-cow stretch
-Hamstring stretching
-Leg Raises Exercise
-Child’s pose
-Piriformis stretch
-Seated Side Stretch

Summary and recommendations:
In her current functional state, the pregnant woman’s back pain should be reduced with appropriate therapeutic exercise approaches. By exercising under the guidance of a physiotherapist, her social isolation decreases, she overcomes kinesiophobia, her daily living activities return to her previous routine, and her level of physical activity, which was reduced due to her pregnancy, should be increased. If there is no improvement in social isolation and anxiety, group exercises may be recommended, or you may be directed to work with a psychologist.
Stretching exercises and light strengthening exercises are recommended together to strengthen muscles, increase mobility, and increase motor control not only of the painful lumbar region but also of the general body.