JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain is one of the most important clinical manifestations of postpartum back pain. Those affected often complain of discomfort during daily activities. It is hypothesized that altered motor control is associated with perceived pain. Pelvic support can regulate possible underlying altered motor control mechanisms and decrease pain. However, the influence of a lumbosacral orthosis which is broader support that allows for a wider contact area and more skin sensory stimulation to restore proper motor function has not yet been investigated in women with postpartum pregnancy-related posterior pelvic girdle pain.

Objective:

This study investigates the efficacy of broader lumbar support and narrower pelvic support on pain, proprioception, disability, and muscle strength in women with pregnancy-related posterior pelvic girdle pain.

Methods:

This study will be a single-center, three-armed, participant-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Eighty-four women diagnosed with pregnancy-related posterior pelvic pain will be recruited and randomly assigned into three groups. Intervention groups A and B will receive pelvic and lumbar supports, respectively. Group C (control) will receive only a patient-education leaflet containing advice on strengthening exercises, comfortable positions, and other practical information. The study outcomes are pain, effort score during active straight leg raising test, maximum isometric hip flexion force, maximum isometric hip external rotation force, maximum isometric trunk rotation force, and joint position reproduction of hip abduction. The study outcomes will be measured at four time-points: baseline (T1), immediately after the intervention (T2), four weeks following interventions began (at this time, the intervention period is completed) (T3), and one week after discontinuing the interventions (T4) to evaluate the possible lasting effects of wearing supports. Multivariate analysis of variance will be used to test between- and within-group differences.

Results:

Recruitment for the present study will be started in Summer 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of fall 2022.

Conclusions:

This study will examine the efficacy of broader lumbar support as an early rehabilitative treatment for women involved in postpartum posterior pelvic pain compared to a narrower pelvic support. We expect the broader lumbar support to impact pain management and disability better than the current narrower pelvic belt. Long-term follow-up studies will help determine whether such lumbosacral orthosis reduces pain and improves daily activities in women with pregnancy-related posterior pelvic girdle pain. Clinical Trial: The study protocol is recorded in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on April 31, 2021 (Registration reference: IRCT20150210021034N11).