Pelvic girdle pain (PGP)
What is PGP?
Around 20% of women will feel symptoms of Pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy. This may be felt as low back/sacral pain, pain at the front of the pelvis, in between the legs or around the hips and can appear at any stage of pregnancy.
There are factors which increase the likelihood of developing PGP such as:
Pre existing LBP prior to pregnancy.
Previous PGP
Joint hypermobility
The causes of PGP aren’t entirely clear. For some it can be caused by a change in the activity of the muscles around the pelvis which can mean the pelvis is less supported. Others may feel pain as a result of hormonal changes or trauma such as a fall.
What are common symptoms?
Rolling in bed
Getting in/out of the car
One legged activities such as getting dressed/climbing stairs
Seeking early treatment for PGP can improve outcomes, so speak to your GP, Midwife of Physiotherapist as early as possible if you have concerns.
What can a Physiotherapist do?
We can do a Physical assessment to find out more about what is causing the pain. From there we can provide advice on how to ease symptoms and work out individualised exercises. There is not a one size fits all approach to exercise.
Physiotherapists can also use manual techniques such as specific soft tissue massage or gentle joint mobilisations to help reduce pain.
Will my PGP go away?
In most cases PGP goes away very quickly postnatally. In a small percentage it persists past the 12 week mark. In these cases I would encourage you return to see a health professional eg GP/Physiotherapist for assessment and treatment.
Why do I have ongoing PGP when I get my period?
Hormonal changes may lead to ongoing PGP around the time of your period. If this doesn’t settle you should consult your GP/Physiotherapist for a further pelvic assessment.
I would like to try for another baby, do I need to wait?
Research hasn’t shown a link between PGP and gaps between pregnancies. However it may be worth considering;
Ongoing symptoms
Activity level of your current child-if they aren’t old enough to walk, will you be able to continue to left them during pregnancy.
Further resources:
https://pogp.csp.org.uk/system/files/pogp-pgppat_3.pdf