The Effectiveness of Using Gymballs in Reducing Back Pain in the Third Trimester at the Hampang Community Health Center,  Kotabaru Regency

Padila Arisandi; Retno Dewi Prisusanti

doi:10.59680/ventilator.v3i1.2324

Authors

Padila Arisandi Institut Sains dan Teknologi Kesehatan Dr. Rumah Sakit Soepraoen
Retno Dewi Prisusanti Institut Sains dan Teknologi Kesehatan Dr. Rumah Sakit Soepraoen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59680/ventilator.v3i1.2324

Keywords:

Cesarean Section, Parity, Post-Cesarean Section Mothers, Postoperative Pain, Surgical Wound Pain

Abstract

Low back pain is a common issue during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester, due to hormonal changes, increased lumbar lordosis, and altered body mechanics. This pain can negatively impact daily activities, sleep, and maternal well-being. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gymball exercises in alleviating low back pain among third-trimester pregnant women at Puskesmas Hampang, Kotabaru Regency. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group, 40 participants were selected via purposive sampling. The intervention group (n = 20) performed structured gymball exercises three times a week for four weeks, while the control group (n = 20) received standard prenatal care without gymball exercises. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests for within-group comparisons and independent t-tests for between-group comparisons. Results showed a significant reduction in pain intensity in the intervention group, with mean VAS scores decreasing from 6.2 ± 1.0 to 3.1 ± 0.9 (p < 0.001). The control group showed minimal change (6.0 ± 1.1 to 5.7 ± 1.0; p = 0.148). This study indicates that gymball exercises are a safe, effective, and feasible complementary therapy for managing low back pain in pregnancy.

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