OBJECTIVE: To study lumbopelvic pain in women randomized to a regular exercise program during pregnancy in comparison to women receiving standard antenatal care. DESIGN: A two-armed, two-center, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital and Stavanger University Hospital. POPULATION: A total of 855 pregnant women were randomized to intervention or control groups. METHODS: The intervention was a 12 week exercise program, including aerobic and strengthening exercises, conducted between 20 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. One weekly group session was led by physiotherapists, and home exercises were encouraged twice a week. The control group received standard antenatal care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reports of lumbopelvic pain and sick leave due to lumbopelvic pain. The data were analysed according to the "intention-to-treat" principle. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups of women reporting lumbopelvic pain at 36 weeks (74 versus 75%, p = 0.76). The proportion of women on sick leave due to lumbopelvic pain was lower in the intervention group (22% versus 31%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise during pregnancy does not influence the prevalence of lumbopelvic pain, but women offered a regular exercise course seem to handle the disorder better.

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