Single Centre Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effectiveness of Two Pelvic Support Garments

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) occurs in an estimated 70% of pregnant women, of whom 25% have severe pain and 8% significant disability. Current methods of management, such as the use of rigid pelvic belts, are limited in their effectiveness. The Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthoses (DEFO) has recently proven beneficial in managing PGP in athletes. There is a need to explore the potential use of DEFO for managing PGP during pregnancy. The primary aim of the study is to compare the effectiveness of a DEFO to a rigid 'off the shelf' pelvic support belt in terms of its effectiveness in reducing PGP during pregnancy. The secondary aims of the study are to compare the effectiveness of the DEFO to the rigid 'off the shelf' pelvic support belt in (a) optimizing activity levels in pregnant women with PGP, (b)improving quality of life for pregnant women with PGP. The relative cost effectiveness of these two interventions will also be compared.

Inclusion criteria

women 20-36 weeks pregnant, who:

• report intermittent PGP (commenced or aggravated during pregnancy) which causes walking and/or stair climbing to be bothersome and
• are positive on at least 3 out of 7 pain provocation tests

Exclusion criteria

• recent history/signs or symptoms indicative of serious causes of pain that might be inflammatory, infective, traumatic, neoplastic, degenerative or metabolic, i.e. trauma, unexplained weight loss, history of cancer, steroid use, drug abuse, HIV infection, immunosuppressed state, neurological symptoms/signs such as: bowel, bladder, sensory, motor, reflex involvement (cauda equina, lumbar disk lesion, spinal stenosis,)
• fever
• systemically unwell
• obstetric complications
• pain that does not improve with rest/severe disabling pain
• history of chronic back or pelvic pain requiring surgery
• focal inflammatory signs/tenderness of spine (spondylolisthesis)
• known skin allergy to lycra
• >36 weeks pregnant (production of customized DEFO will take approximately 1 week)