Table 1. Description of the studies.

DRI: Disability Rating Index ; LBP: low back pain; LPP: Lumbopelvic pain; NRS: Numeric Rating Scale; ODI: Oswestry Disability Index; PGP: Pelvic Girdle Pain; PGQ: Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire; QBPDS: Quebec Back Pain Disability scale; RMDQ: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire; SF: Short Form Health Survey; VAS: Visual Analogue Scale

a Not used in the analyses.

b The values of patients with LBP and PGP were summed and referred to as LPP in the analyses.

c Not used in the analyses because the data were not presented in detail.

First author with year of publication	Country	Preventive (Prev) or therapeutic (Ther)	Most important inclusion criteria	Most important exclusion criteria	Interventions in the experimental group	Intervention in the control group as worded by the authors	Measurements
Backhausen 2017 [10]	Denmark	Prev	age >18 years; 20 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; healthy	BMI>29; severe PGP; abuse problems	exercises in a swimming pool; twice a week for 12 weeks; supervised in the first contact	standard prenatal care	- pain intensity on an NRS - RMDQ - proportion of women with LPP - proportion of women on sick leave
Bandpei 2010 [2]	Iran	Ther	12-22 weeks pregnant; healthy	specific causes of low back pain	exercises to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles; daily for 12 weeks; supervised in the first contact; ergonomic advice	no intervention	- pain intensity on a VAS - ODI
Barbier 2023 [11]	France	Ther	15-32 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; healthy; BMI< 32 kg/m2	specific causes of low back pain; high-risk pregnancy	stretching and contraction of paravertebral muscles; 20-30 minutes, 2-3 times a week for two months	advice on ergonomics and activities	- pain intensity on an NRS - physical component SF-12
Eggen 2012 [6]	Norway	Prev	age 18-40 years; 20 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; healthy	high-risk pregnancy	aerobics, activation of stabilizing muscles and pelvic floor; once a week in classes supervised and daily at home 16-20 weeks; ergonomic advice	standard care	- pain intensity morning on an NRSa - pain intensity evening on an NRS - RMDQ - physical component SF-8a - proportion of women with PGPb - proportion of women with LBPb
Field 2012 [12]	USA	Ther	age 18-40 years; 18-22 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; depressed; otherwise, healthy	drug abuse; other psychiatric condition than depression	yoga; 20 minutes in classes, once a week, from inclusion to week 32	standard prenatal care	- pain intensity on an NRS
Figueira 2014 [13]	Brazil	Prev	age >18 years; 20-31 weeks pregnant; healthy	high-risk pregnancy	static flexibility exercises 45 minutes; twice a week for 9 weeks	conventional medical treatment with postural guidelines for LBP prevention	- pain intensity on a VAS
Figueira 2014 [13]	Brazil	Ther
Filipec 2020 [14]	Croatia	Ther	age 25-45 years; 10-34 weeks pregnant	other causes of back pain	pelvic tilt exercises, gluteus contractions and active hip flexion; 20 minutes two times a week	the control group continued to adhere to their regular life habits.	- pain intensity on a VAS - QBPDS
Garshasbi 2005 [15]	Iran	Prev	age 20-28 years; 17-22 weeks pregnant; healthy; nulliparous; housewife; high school graduated	severe back pain before pregnancy; orthopedic diseases;	strengthening of trunk and hip muscles; cardiovascular fitness; three times a week for 12 weeks;	not mentioned	- Pain intensity with a modified QBPDS
Gil 2011 [16]	Brazil	Ther	age 18-40 years; 20-25 weeks pregnant; nulliparous	pathology of the spine; obstetric or gynecologic pathology	stretching by means of Global Postural Re-education; 40 minutes, once a week for 8 weeks	routine prenatal care	- pain intensity with a VAS - RMDQ 24
Haakstad 2015 [3]	Norway	Prev	<24 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; nulliparous; healthy; sedentary	inability to attend weekly exercise classes; insufficient knowledge of the Norwegian language	as control group and aerobic dance with focus on endurance, strength of stabilizing muscles and pelvic floor; 2-3 times a week for 12 weeks; supervised; ergonomic advice	usual prenatal care	- proportion of women with PGP - proportion of women with LBPb - questions about influence of LPP on activities of daily life (Y/N) and about influence of LPP on physical activity (Y/N)a
Kashanian 2009 [17]	Iran	Prev	age 20-30 years; 16 weeks pregnant; nulliparous; healthy	drug abuse	as control group and relaxation and strengthening of various muscles of trunk, shoulder and hips; three times a week for 8 weeks	routine prenatal care	- pain intensity (method not mentioned)
Keskin 2012 [18]	Turkey	Ther	>32 weeks pregnant	other causes of back or pelvic pain	pelvic tilt exercises, stretching muscles of lower extremity, isometric abdominal contractions and posture exercises; two times a day for 3 weeks	not mentioned	- pain intensity with a VAS - RMDQ 24
Kihlstrand 1999 [19]	Sweden	Prev	<19 weeks pregnant; healthy	epilepsy; insufficient knowledge of the Swedish language	water-based exercises; once a week for 12-17 weeks; supervised	not mentioned	- pain intensity at its worst on a VASc - pain intensity at its mildest on a VASc - pain intensity ‘just now’ on a VASc - proportion of women with LPP - proportion of women on sick leave because of LPP
Kluge 2011 [20]	South Africa	Ther	age 20-40 years; 16-24 weeks pregnant	pathology of the spine; obstetric or gynecologic pathology	exercises to strengthen and activate transverse abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, hip muscles and quadriceps; daily at home and every 2 weeks 30-45 minutes in supervised classes for 10 weeks	basic care and information about ergonomics and correct posture	- pain intensity on NRS 0-60 - Likert-Modified RMDQ 0-144
Knudsen 2024 [21]	Denmark	Prev	<15 weeks pregnant; sedentary; healthy		as control group and exercises in gym or swimming pool; supervised; once a week from inclusion to delivery	standard prenatal care	- pain intensity - physical component SF-36 - proportion of women on sick leave with medical certificate - proportion of women on sickness absence without medical certificatea - proportion of women with LPP
Kordi 2013 [22]	Iran	Ther	age <40 years; 20-32 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; healthy; positive tests for PGP	contraindications to exercise in pregnancy	as control group and hip, trunk, and pelvic floor muscles, two times a day, three times a week for 6 weeks	general information	- pain intensity on a VAS - ODI
Mamipour 2023 [23]	Iran	Ther	age >18 years; 17-18 weeks pregnant; nulliparous; healthy; LPP for more than one week	history of LPP before pregnancy	as control group and activating pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles; three times a week for 10 weeks; in supervised groups and at home;	standard antenatal care and customary information	- pain intensity on a VAS - ODI
Martins 2005 [24]	Brazil	Ther	>12 weeks pregnancy; singleton pregnancy; living in Paulínia	contraindication for training; already treated with physiotherapy	stretching by means of Global Postural Re-education; one hour, once a week for 8 weeks	treatment according to medical guidelines	- pain intensity on a VAS
Miquelutti 2013 [25]	Brazil	Prev	age 16-40 years; ≥18 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; healthy		stretching of various muscle groups, activating the pelvic floor and transverse abdominal muscles; aerobics; breathing techniques and relaxation exercises in preparation for childbirth; daily at home and supervised every 1-4 weeks	routine of prenatal care	- proportion of women with LPP
Mirmolaei 2018 [4]	Iran	Ther	age 18-35 years; 17-22 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; healthy	contraindications to exercise	as control group and ergonomic advice; stretching and strengthening muscles; 10 times a day for 12 weeks at home	routine prenatal care	- pain intensity on a VAS - ODI
Mørkved 2007 [5]	Norway	Prev	18 weeks pregnant; nulliparous; healthy		as control group and aerobic training, activation of stabilizing muscles and pelvic floor; weekly training at home twice daily for 12 weeks	customary information and providing a pelvic belt	- DRI - proportion of women on sick leave - proportion of women with LPP
Niaraki 2021 [26]	Iran	Ther	age 20-35 years; 20-26 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; RMDQ 24 score ≥12; VAS Pain ≥4	contraindications to exercise; known musculoskeletal, neurological, or psychiatric disorder; use of painkillers or fear of water	aerobics in water and stretching 60 minutes, three times a week for 2 months	standard prenatal care	- pain intensity with a VAS - RMDQ 24
Nilsson 2005 [27]	Sweden	Ther	<35 weeks pregnant; three positive tests for PGP	positive tests for LBP	home exercises of muscle among hips and balance training; two times a week for 16 weeks; supervised in the first contact	customary information and providing a pelvic belt; availability to call a helpdesk.	- pain intensity on a VAS median - DRI
Nilsson 2005 [27]	Sweden	Ther			exercises for muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness two times a week for 16 weeks; all supervised	customary information and providing a pelvic belt; availability to call a helpdesk.
Ostgaard 1994 [28]	Sweden	Prev	18 weeks pregnant; nulliparous; healthy		Supervised individual sessions with back school education and training: 5 sessions of 30 minutes and training at home three times a week; providing general information and ergonomic advice; half of the women with LPP were given a pelvic belt	according to the usual routines	- pain intensityc - proportion of women on sick leave - proportion of women with LPPc
Ostgaard 1994 [28]	Sweden	Prev			supervised classes with back school education and training 2 sessions of 45 minutes; providing general information and ergonomic advice; half of the women with LPP were given a pelvic belt	according to the usual routines
Ozdemir 2015 [29]	Turkey	Ther	age >18 years; 20-35 weeks pregnant; sedentary lifestyle	severe low back and/or pelvic disease before pregnancy; using other treatments for low back or pelvic pain	stretching, strengthening, and loosening of spine muscles on a mattress or brisk walking; 30 minutes, three times a week for 4 weeks	usual care	- pain intensity with a VAS - ODI
Poděbradská 2019 [30]	Czech	Prev	end of second trimester or beginning of third trimester of pregnancy		exercises to reduce the pronation position of the feet; daily 10-15 minutes in the second trimester of the pregnancy	no specific exercises	- McGill Pain Questionnaire - Pregnancy Mobility Scale
Ramezanpour 2018 [31]	Iran	Ther	age >24 years; 20-35 weeks pregnant; primigravida; singleton pregnancy; healthy	exercises before pregnancy	body balance three times a week for 12 weeks	usual care	- pain intensity on a VAS
Ramezanpour 2018 [31]	Iran	Ther			pelvic floor exercises; two times a day for 12 weeks	usual care
Ramezanpour 2018 [31]	Iran	Ther			body balance three times a week and pelvic floor exercises; two times a day for 12 weeks	usual care
Sedaghati 2007 [32]	Iran	Prev	not mentioned	contraindications to aerobics	supervised aerobics 60 min with accent on bicycling, 3 times a week	not mentioned	- pain intensity with a modified QBPDS
SklempeKokic 2017 [33]	Croatia	Prev	age 20-40 years; <30 weeks pregnant	contraindications for exercise, smoking, severe lumbopelvic pain before pregnancy	aerobics, brisk walking; resistance exercises of muscles in the lumbopelvic area, upper and lower limb, back extensors, pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles; two times a week from inclusion to end of pregnancy	standard antenatal care	- pain intensity with an NRS - RMDQ 24 - PGQa
Sonmezer 2021 [34]	Turkey	Ther	age 20-35 years; 22-24 weeks pregnant; parity ≤3	pre-pregnancy lumbar pain; contraindications for exercises	Pilates exercises 60 minutes; two times a week for 8 weeks	regular prenatal care	- pain intensity on a VAS - ODI
Stafne 2012 [35]	Norway	Prev	18-22 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; healthy	high-risk pregnancies	supervised aerobics; activation of stabilizing muscles and pelvic floor; 60 minutes once a week; providing ergonomic advice	standard antenatal care; providing general information	- pain intensity in the morninga - pain intensity in the evening - DRI - proportion of women on sick leave - proportion of women with LPP
Suputtidada 2002 [36]	Thailand	Ther	not mentioned	not mentioned	sitting pelvic tilt exercises; 4-10 repetitions per session, two times a day, five days per week, for 8 weeks	did not perform any exercise	- pain intensity on a VAS
Yildirim 2023 [37]	Turkey	Ther	age 18-40 years; 14-24 weeks pregnant; singleton pregnancy; healthy; VAS pain ≥2	other cause of back pain; contraindications for exercises	pilates exercises; 60 minutes, two times a week for 12 weeks	usual prenatal care	- pain intensity on a VAS - RMDQ 24