Original Research The Effect of Maternity Support Belts on Postural Balance in Pregnancy Bulent Cakmak, MD, Ahmet Inanir, MD, Mehmet Can Nacar, MD, Behcet Filiz, MD Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternity support belts (MSB) on postural balance during pregnancy. Design: Prospective, observational cohort study. Setting: Outpatient visits at a university hospital, obstetrics and gynecology clinic. Participants: A total of 90 pregnant women in first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy; 30 pregnant women for each trimester. Methods: Dynamic and postural stability by using a Biodex Stability System and comparing pregnant women with and without an MSB in each cohort group. Main Outcome Measures: Overall, anterior-posterior stability index, medial-lateral stability index, and fall risk test (FRT) scores were obtained with 1 stance at platform stability of level 8. Four measurements from the Biodex Stability System were compared between pregnant women with and without an MSB in each group. Results: The scores of anterior-posterior stability index and FRT were significantly lower in the first-trimester group with an MSB than without an MSB (P < .05). Medial-lateral stability index and FRT scores were significantly lower in the second-trimester group with an MSB than without an MSB (P < .05). In the third-trimester group, overall, medial-lateral stability index, and FRT scores were lower for participants with an MSB compared with participants without an MSB (P < .05). In all trimester groups, FRT scores were detected to be lower in pregnant women with an MSB than in those without an MSB (P < .05). Conclusions: MSB use improves impaired balance and FRT scores during all periods of pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. MSB is useful for fall prevention during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. PM R 2014;6:624-628 INTRODUCTION Pregnant women are at higher risk for falls than women who are not pregnant. Although 27% of women fall during their pregnancy, 10% of them experience 2 or more falls [1].A fall during pregnancy may result in maternal injuries such as bone fractures, joint sprains, muscle strains, head injury, rupture of internal organs, internal hemorrhage, abruptio placenta, rupture of the uterus and membranes, and occasionally maternal death or in- trauterine fetal demise [2,3]. Pregnancy-related pelvic pain from presumed joint laxity is a common and disabling problem [4]. Many methods are used for management of pelvic joint laxity during preg- nancy; 1 of these strategies is use of a maternity support belt (MSB). A supportive belt decreases joint laxity if it is fitted to apply compression at the anterior superior iliac spine [5]. MSBs are regarded as safe, low-cost, and accessible devices, and are used for the management of low back and/or pelvic pain symptoms [6,7]. The belt application has been shown to have a mechanical effect of reducing the mobility, laxity, and sagittal rotation of the sacroiliac joints in women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain [5,8,9]. Numerous hormonal, anatomic, and physiological states change during the course of gestation, such as substantial weight gain, increased ligamentous laxity, increased spinal lordosis, decreased neuromuscular control and coordination, decreased abdominal muscle strength, biomechanics alteration, and an anterior shift in the location of the center of body B.C. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gaz- iosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Kelardı Mahallesi, 60100, Tokat, Turkey. Address correspondence to: B.C.; e-mail: drbulentcakmak@hotmail.com Disclosure: nothing to disclose A.I. Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey Disclosure: nothing to disclose M.C.N. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gaz- iosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey Disclosure: nothing to disclose B.F. Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey Disclosure: nothing to disclose Submitted for publication August 11, 2013; accepted December 22, 2013. 624 PM&R 1934-1482/13/$36.00 Printed in U.S.A. ª 2014 by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Vol. 6, 624-628, July 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2013.12.012