• Gausel AM
• Dalen I
• Kjærmann I
• Malmqvist S
• Andersen K
• Larsen JP
• Økland I

• Affiliation / Stavanger University Hospital. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Affiliation / Stavanger University Hospital. Department of Research
• Affiliation / Stavanger University Hospital. Department of Research. Section of Biostatistics
• Affiliation / Stavanger University Hospital. Norwegian Centre for Movement Disorders
• Affiliation / University of Stavanger. Network for Medical Sciences
• Affiliation(G) / Norway / Stavanger
• Pelvic Girdle Pain / therapy
• Postnatal Care
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of conducting a study examining the influence of individualized rehabilitation and chiropractic treatment, compared with individualized rehabilitation alone, in women with persistent dominating 1-sided pelvic girdle pain (PGP) 3 to 6 months after delivery.

METHODS: Women were recruited from an outpatient clinic at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway and in a private chiropractic clinic in Stavanger. Those with persistent, dominating 1-sided PGP were included in this pilot study. Those who met inclusion criteria were randomized into 2 groups, one group received individualized rehabilitation and chiropractic treatment and the other group women received individualized rehabilitation alone. Treatment was measured for 20 weeks.

RESULTS: Of 330 consenting women who were recruited who reported pelvic pain during pregnancy, 68 reported PGP or low back pain, and 63 consented to fill in a questionnaire. Forty-seven women underwent a clinical examination 3 to 6 months after delivery. During the examination, the women were diagnosed into subgroups for PGP. After exclusion of the women with low back pain only, a total of 13 women were diagnosed with dominating 1-sided PGP and thus included in this study. Six were randomized to the individualized rehabilitation and chiropractic treatment group and 5 to the individualized rehabilitation alone group. After 20 weeks of intervention, both groups reported improvement in disability and pain, but not in general health status. No serious or long-lasting adverse events were registered after treatment or training.

CONCLUSION: We found that a study of this nature is feasible. However, the conditions of patient recruitment need to be considered carefully. We learned that a trial to investigate the effect of chiropractic treatment for PGP pain should include all subgroups of PGP to reach an acceptable sample size.

Author keywords: Pelvic Girdle Pain, Chiropractic, Exercise Therapy, Postpartum Period

Author affiliations: AMG, IO: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; ID: Department of Research, Section of Biostatistics, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; IK, KA: Department of Research, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; SM: The Norwegian Centre for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; JPL: Network for Medical Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway;

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