Group intervention for women with pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Low back and pelvic pain is common in pregnancy and postpartum, but there is no well documented effect of treatment in pregnancy. The aim of the study was to assess whether a group intervention program for pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain has any effect on pain and daily function postpartum.

Methods: Pregnant women with pelvic pain between the 18th and 32nd week of gestation were invited to participate in a randomized clinical study. Among 958 examined women, 569 (59%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Women randomized to the intervention group (n=275) participated in an education program that consisted of information, ergonomics, exercises, pain management, advice for daily life movement, pelvic belt/crutches, and information about delivery. Women randomized to the control group (n=285) were not offered any treatment, but were free to seek advice or other treatment. Clinical measures and self-evaluated utility of the intervention were measured by a visual analogue scale 0-10.

Results: Mean debut of pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy was at week 15. Altogether 42% of the women reported problems with low back pain earlier, and 34% reported a family history of pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. Median visual analogue scale score for all activities at inclusion was 6 both in the control group and the intervention group. At 6 and 12 months postpartum the score was reduced to 1.7/1.6 and 1.1/0.9. In the intervention group, 75% marked a self-evaluated utility visual analogue scale score >7. In the control group, 60% had searched for alternative treatment.

Conclusions: Postpartum pelvic girdle pain improved with time both in the intervention group and the control group, but there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. Self-evaluated utility of the intervention was, however, high in the intervention group.