Management of Antenatal Pelvic Girdle Pain (MAPS): A double blinded, randomised trial evaluating the effectiveness of two pelvic orthoses

Introduction Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) occurs in 70% of pregnant women; of whom 25% have severe pain and 8% severe disability requiring the use of crutches, wheelchair or confinement to bed [1]. Patients with pregnancy related PGP have been shown to have increased pelvic joint motion compared with healthy pregnant controls, probably due to a combination of hormonal and biomechanical factors, leading to an increase in pelvic joint laxity, changes in lumbopelvic posture and increase in shearing forces through pelvic joints, thus leading to pain [2,3]. PGP is difficult to manage; activities such as turning in bed, prolonged walking, or carrying items may cause pain; impacting negatively on quality of life [4]. In economic terms societal costs are significant, mainly as a consequence of work absenteeism; with 20% of people requiring an average of 7-11 weeks sick leave [5-8]. There are high direct health costs as well as increased health risks as women with PGP have a higher request for induction of labour and elective caesarean section to achieve symptomatic relief [3,5,7].