Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the time of postpartum low back pain onset affected the clinical outcomes of physical therapy for low back pain.

Subjects and Methods: A total of 50 patients participated in this study; 18 had onset of low back pain less than one year after childbirth (early group). and 32 had onset after more than one year (late group). All patients received the same exercise therapy and lifestyle guidance. Clinical results were compared between the two groups after 1 and 3 months of treatment using a visual analog scale (VAS) for low back pain and each item and the total of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

Results: In both groups, Sitting, Standing, Sleeping, and Travel of the ODI and the total ODI improved significantly 1-3 months post-treatment from pre-treatment. However, no significant differences were found between the groups. The VAS for low back pain and, Pain intensity, Personal care, Lifting, Walking, and Social of the ODI improved significantly 1-3 months post treatment from pre-treatment in the late group, but improved significantly 3 months post treatment from pre-treatment in the early group.

Conclusion: In the course of physical therapy for patients with postpartum low back pain, both groups showed improvements in static daily living functions, while the late group demonstrated improvements in dynamic daily living functions from as early as one month. Physical therapy may be effective for patients with postpartum low back pain.