INTEGRATION OF THE PHYSIOTHERAPIST IN PRENATAL CARE: IMPACTS ON THE CARE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN

Abstract

This study presents an integrative literature review on the integration of the physiotherapist into the multiprofessional prenatal care team, highlighting its impacts on gestational care and the pregnant woman’s experience. Pregnancy is a period marked by physical, emotional, and social transformations, requiring comprehensive and humanized care to ensure the well-being and safety of both the mother and the baby. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 295,000 women died from pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications in 2017, most of them in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, 2019). In Brazil, the maternal mortality rate was estimated at 57.9 per 100,000 live births in 2021 (DASIS/SVS/MS). The integration of physiotherapists in this process has proven effective in preventing and managing musculoskeletal dysfunctions, preparing for childbirth, and promoting maternal well-being. This integrative review aimed to gather scientific evidence published between 2019 and 2025 regarding physiotherapeutic practice in prenatal care. Eighteen articles from major scientific databases were analyzed. The results indicate that the presence of the physiotherapist contributes to reducing low back and pelvic pain, improving respiratory function, strengthening the pelvic floor, reducing the fear of childbirth, and increasing pregnant women’s satisfaction with the care received. Despite the identified benefits, there are still gaps related to the limited number of national studies, heterogeneity of intervention protocols, and scarcity of longitudinal research. It is concluded that the integration of this professional is essential for strengthening multiprofessional care, ensuring a more comprehensive and humanized approach to prenatal assistance. Further clinical and multicenter studies are recommended to support more equitable public policies for maternal health.