# Prevalence, Severity and Impact of Foot Pain in 419 Pregnant Participants: The Queensland Family Cohort Study

## TL;DR

This study found that foot pain is common during pregnancy and affects quality of life, suggesting it should be addressed in prenatal and postnatal care.

## Contribution

The study provides longitudinal data on foot pain prevalence and impact during pregnancy, highlighting the need for targeted management.

## Key findings

- Foot pain affected 44-56% of participants during pregnancy, with mild to moderate severity.
- Foot pain had a mild to moderate impact on work, activities, and quality of life.
- Participants with foot pain reported lower perceived health during and after pregnancy.

## Abstract

Many hormonal, anatomical and biomechanical changes occur during pregnancy that may contribute to lower limb musculoskeletal dysfunction, including foot pain. Previous international studies have reported variable rates of foot pain in this population, but there is a lack of prospective longitudinal investigations. Improving the current understanding of foot pain is important to inform the development of management interventions during and after pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the self‐reported prevalence, severity, frequency and impact of foot pain on work, activities and quality of life during pregnancy.

Pregnant participants were recruited through the Queensland Family Cohort study conducted at a tertiary maternity hospital. Questionnaires were administered at enrolment (12–24 weeks' gestation) to collect demographics and at 24 weeks' gestation, 36 weeks' gestation and at the end of pregnancy (6 weeks postpartum) to measure the presence, severity and frequency of foot pain and symptoms and the impact of foot pain on work, activities and quality of life.

Four hundred and nineteen pregnant participants with a mean age of 32.2 (range 16–45) years and body mass index of 27 (range 17–52) were included. A high prevalence of foot pain was reported during pregnancy (44% up to 24 weeks; 56% up to 36 weeks, 54% up to the end of pregnancy). The severity of foot pain was mild to moderate and occasional in frequency. Foot pain had a mild to moderate impact on work, activities and quality of life during pregnancy. Participants with foot pain reported a lower perceived level of health during and at the end of pregnancy.

Foot pain is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal problem that impacts work and quality of life during pregnancy. Pre‐natal and post‐natal care may provide an opportunity to assess and provide advice, treatment or appropriate referral for the management of foot pain.