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Clinical Trial
. 2009 Aug;18(8):1121-9.
doi: 10.1007/s00586-009-0948-2. Epub 2009 Mar 28.

Self-administered tests as a screening procedure for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain

Monika Fagevik Olsén  1 , Annelie Gutke, Helen Elden, Charlotte Nordenman, Lina Fabricius, Melissa Gravesen, Anette Lind, Gunilla Kjellby-Wendt
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Self-administered tests as a screening procedure for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain

Monika Fagevik Olsén et al. Eur Spine J. 2009 Aug.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate sensitivity and specificity of self-administrated tests aimed at pain provocation of posterior and/or anterior pelvis pain and to investigate pain intensity during and after palpation of the symphysis. A total of 175 women participated in the study, 100 pregnant women with and 25 pregnant women without lumbopelvic back pain and 50 non-pregnant women. Standard pain provocation tests were compared with self assessed tests. All women were asked to estimate pain during and after palpation of the symphysis. For posterior pelvic pain, the self-test of P4 and Bridging test had the highest sensitivity of 0.90 versus 0.97 and specificity of 0.92 and 0.87. Highest sensitivity for self-test for anterior pelvic pain was pulling a mat 0.85. Palpation of symphysis was painful and persistency of pain was the longest among women who fulfilled the criteria for symphyseal pain. There were overall significant differences between the groups concerning intensity and persistency of pain (P < 0.001). Our results indicate that pregnant women can perform a screening by provocation of posterior pelvic pain by self-tests with the new P4 self-test and the Bridging test. Palpation of the symphysis is painful and should only be used as a complement to history taking, pain drawing and pulling a MAT-test.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pain after palpation of symphysis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pain intensity VAS. Asterisks and circles indicate extreme values
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The self-assessed P4
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Four-point kneeling with extension of one leg
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Bridging with extension of one leg
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Pulling a mat (MAT-test)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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