Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy – Patient Expectations and Experiences

A chiropractors, we can glean useful information from qualitative studies conducted in physical therapy environments – this week, a good example of this in relation to pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. If we know what our patients are looking for, we will be better able to serve them…

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) affects more than half of pregnant women and often results in limited function. Most commonly, the pain in experienced unilaterally or bilaterally over the sacroiliac joints and/or pubic bone, with possible radiation into the thighs. PGP can occur at any time during pregnancy or within 3 weeks after delivery. Symptoms are often related to activity, and commonly manifest with pain with walking and prolonged standing.

Best evidence interventions include a stabilizing pelvic belt, acupuncture, and physical exercise, however, there is no evidence regarding whether this is what the women need and/or expect. Most women recover within 2 months postpartum, but pain persists 4 months after delivery in approximately 20% of women with PGP. Further, roughly 10% still experience PGP more than 11 years postpartum.

According to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), PGP limits functioning in all domains, including work and social life, resulting in emotions like anger, frustration, and guilt due to these limitations. When compared to healthy pregnant women, those with PGP experience higher levels of anxiety, fear-avoidance behaviors, and depressive symptoms, and are at an increased risk of developing postpartum depression.

Patients with musculoskeletal disorders generally expect professional management, express trust in a clinician’s competence and knowledge about treatment options, and want to discuss and share decisions about treatment. Women with PGP tend to request more knowledge, individually tailored advice, and treatment.

The aim of this project was to investigate how pregnant women describe their lived experience of PGP and the needs and expectations they express prior to a physical therapy consultation.

This week’s Research Review: “Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy – Patient Expectations“

This paper was published in the Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy (2023)

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