Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain

Sixty to 70 percent of women experience pelvic girdle pain during their pregnancy. The pelvic girdle is defined as the posterior pelvis (low back) and the pubic symphysis (the joint in the front of the pelvis). 

Women Who Are Susceptible to Pelvic Girdle Pain

• Women will have a higher incidence of pelvic girdle pain if they:
• Have a history of low back pain
• Trauma to the pelvis
• Pelvic girdle pain in a prior pregnancy
• High work load
• Are of advancing maternal age 

Up to 40% of women reporting back pain during pregnancy still report pain in the postpartum period. Relatively few women report this pain to their healthcare provider. 

Pelvic Girdle Pain: How We Help

Our women’s health Physical Therapist is an expert in musculoskeletal dysfunction and will work with you to help you optimize function and provide pain relief during this important time in your life. The ability to continue to work, care for children, and exercise are important goals to work toward.

Our women’s health physical therapist creates an individualized treatment plan for you by assessing the pelvic girdle, and rectus diastasis, stability of the pelvis, and strength of the hip musculature. The abdominal muscles are overly stretched during pregnancy, and assessing their function and performing safe abdominal exercising are important components of evaluation and treatment. Some women experience urinary incontinence, carpal tunnel, headaches and mid back pain, which are not normal expectations of pregnancy. Each condition is assessed by our PT with individualized treatment. 

Pregnant women participating in PT can expect a comprehensive evaluation on their first day as well as exercises they will begin working on at home to improve their function. Other effective pain relief measures include:

• Manual therapy
• Moist heat
• Cold packs