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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Jul;22(7):1665-73.
doi: 10.1007/s00586-013-2716-6. Epub 2013 Feb 21.

Predictors for long-term disability in women with persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain

Jenny Sjödahl  1 , Annelie Gutke, Birgitta Öberg
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Predictors for long-term disability in women with persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain

Jenny Sjödahl et al. Eur Spine J. 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: The majority of prognostic studies on postpartum lumbopelvic pain have investigated factors during pregnancy. Since the majority of women recover within the first few months of delivery, it is unknown if the same predictors are valid for long-term consequences. It is also important to investigate predictors within subgroups of patients with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain due to their different clinical courses. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for disability 15 months postpartum in women with persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain (PGP).

Methods: Data were obtained by clinical tests and questionnaires 3 months postpartum. The outcome 15 months postpartum was disability measured with the Oswestry Disability Index.

Results: A multiple linear regression analysis identified two significant two-way interaction effects that were predictive of disability 15 months postpartum: (a) age + trunk flexor endurance, and (b) disability + hip extensor strength.

Conclusions: Age, muscle function and disability seem to influence the long-term outcome on disability in women with persistent postpartum PGP. It may be important to consider the possibility of different variables impact on each other when predicting long-term disability. In addition, further studies are needed to investigate the impact of interaction effects on long-term consequences in women with persistent postpartum PGP.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Enrolment at evaluations 3 months postpartum and the 12 month follow-up
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of Oswestry (ODI) score at approximately 3 months postpartum (baseline) and 15 months postpartum. Median values given by horizontal line, boxes show the interquartiles and whiskars the range. P < 0.01; n = 50; scale range from 0 to 100 %, 0–20 % = minimal disability; 21–40 % = moderate disability; 41–60 % = severe disability; 61–80 % = crippled; 81–100 % = bedbound or exaggerating the symptoms
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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