Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)

Pelvic girdle pain is any pain that arises from your pelvis. The pain can be in the back or front and be one side or both.

Symptoms:

Pain can be in any region around your pelvis including;
- Over the pubic bone at the front, between your legs (see also section on SPD).
- In your lower back.
- In the area between your vagina and anus (perineum) – (see also section on Perineum pain).
- In one or both thighs.
You may notice pain when walking or going up or down stairs.
Pain when standing on 1 leg (for example, when you’re getting dressed).
Pain when turning over in bed or moving your legs apart (for example, when you get out of a car).
There may be a clicking or grinding sensation in the pubic region or pelvic joints.
It may be painful to lie on your side.
It may be difficult / painful to carry out normal daily activities like washing the dishes.
You may find having sex painful.

Causes:

Changes in hormones.
A history of previous low-back and pelvic girdle pain.
Previous trauma to the pelvis region.
If you have had more than one pregnancy then you are more likely to suffer with SPD / PGP (Pelvic Girdle Pain).
If you carry out a manual-type job with repetitive / awkward lifting positions.
You are also more likely to suffer with pelvic related pain if you have an increased body BMI prior to and and/or by the end of pregnancy.
If you have increased mobility of other joints in the body, this may leave you more susceptible to pelvic related pain (either at the pubic or other pelvic joints).

Here is what the evidence says about the treatment options:

Pilates – evidence does support the use of Pilates-based exercise during pregnancy for the treatment of many conditions, including pelvic related pains. Evidence has also shown that Pilates can also have a positive effect on the birth and the outcome following the birth.

Have a look at our Top 5 online Pilates programmes here.

Yoga – evidence suggests that prenatal yoga may help reduce pelvic pain and help to improve mental health conditions like stress, depression, anxiety that can be associated with pain in pregnancy. Yoga has also been shown to help with pain and pleasure at the delivery of the baby and with postnatal outcomes such as lower delivery times and obstetrical complications.

There are lots of Online Yoga programmes available, have a look at our Top 5 here (and why we love them)! You can also read our blog on how yoga can help in other ways.

Aquatic Exercise – If you are struggling to exercise due to pain or looking for ways to keep fit and are worried about causing pain then swimming (or any other form of aquatic exercise) have been shown to be really beneficial for pelvic related pains like SPD. Have a look at all the benefits shown in THIS study.

TENS – evidence is in favour of the use of TENS. THIS study concluded that treating pelvic related pains with acupuncture or TENS resulted in maintenance of functioning and physical activity and also less pain and concern about pain. Either intervention could be recommended as a non-pharmacological alternative for pain relief and may enable pregnant women to stay active. Always speak to your midwife or GP before using a TENS machine to check it is the right course of action for you (and your baby). TENS is generally not recommended in the first trimester of pregnancy and comes with a lot of guidance to follow.

There are many different TENS machines available to buy, so if you are thinking of TENS as a treatment option then have a look at our Top 5 picks to make things a little easier.

Pregnancy Support Belt – evidence is available for the use of support belts for SPD and other pelvic pains. THIS study concluded that wearing a support belt during pregnancy can have beneficial effects such as; reduced lower back pain, pelvic girdle pain and SIJ pain, improvement of functionality and mobility and reduction of risk of fall during pregnancy. THIS study showed that Pelvic Support belts were a great option in the short term when compared to exercises.

There are currently no studies to show which support belts work best or for how long you should be wearing them, so we have put together our top 5 choices (here) to help guide you based on what they can help with and what we like about them.

Pregnancy support Pillow – There is little evidence in support of the pregnancy pillow. That’s not to say that it doesn’t work / help, it just means that there hasn’t been a need to carry out studies on them. A pregnancy pillow aims to help keep your spine and hips in a neutral position whilst lying on your side. I know from personal experience that they are very comfortable and can double up as a feeding pillow once the baby is born, I think they’re a good investment but whether they will help to alleviate PGP – the jury is still out on that one.

Have a look at out Top 5 pregnancy pillows available here.

Doughnut cushions – a lot of studies have been carried out in order to check the effects of doughnut cushions on pressure relief. The studies are always in their favour, so if pain is an issue in sitting then something like this might help to take some of the pressure off the affected area. Various types of cushions are on the market, have a look at our Top 5 pressure relief cushions HERE.

Really useful links that we think you’ll love:

PGP podcast: We would highly recommend this podcast for all things PGP: Top tips for pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy – FitNest Mama

In addition to the above treatments, the POGP (Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy Association) suggest that you also try to avoid:

Standing on 1 leg
Bending and twisting to lift, or carrying a baby on 1 hip
Crossing your legs
Sitting on the floor, or sitting twisted
Sitting or standing for long periods
Lifting heavy weights, such as shopping bags, wet washing or a toddler
Vacuuming
Pushing heavy objects, such as a supermarket trolley
Carrying anything in only 1 hand (try using a small backpack)

What symptoms to watch out for:

If you have any of the following symptoms then go to your nearest accident and emergency department immediately:

Severe low back pain.
Pain, numbness, or weakness in one or both legs that causes you to stumble or have trouble getting up from a chair.
Loss of or altered sensations in your legs, buttocks, inner thighs, feet or areas that you sit on when in a chair (including genitals / anus) that is severe or gets worse and worse.
Recent problem with bladder or bowel function, such as trouble eliminating urine or waste (retention) or trouble holding it (incontinence).
Sexual dysfunction that has come on suddenly.

Cauda Equina Syndrome is a very rare but very serious condition that must be addressed immediately to prevent any lasting damage to the nerves involved.

Affiliate Programme Disclaimer:
Our blog authors will usually include links to relevant products they feel could be useful to the readers. While all products are chosen independently, we want you to know that Pain in the Bump may receive a percentage payment if you make a purchase at the retailer’s site within 24 hours of clicking on one of the links we provide. This does not affect the price you pay, we just get a small percentage of the purchase amount. This helps to keep our website up and running.

Please Note:
Although the posts on this site are written by fully qualified Physiotherapists, the advice is of a generalist nature and could not take into account the particular physical or medical condition of individual audience members. The information given is meant to be practical and informative but is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. The information available is not meant to replace any relationship that exists between an audience member and their GP, hospital specialist or other healthcare professional. If you are after individual advice or you are concerned about any of your symptoms you must consult your own therapist or healthcare provider.

About The Author

Abigail Taylor qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2005. She has a special interest in Women’s health Physiotherapy and research. Abigail is the founder of ‘Pain in the Bump’ which she developed whilst on her maternity leave with her second baby.

Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)

Symptoms:

Pain can be in any region around your pelvis including;

Over the pubic bone at the front, between your legs (see also section on SPD).

In your lower back.

In the area between your vagina and anus (perineum) – (see also section on Perineum pain).

In one or both thighs.

You may notice pain when walking or going up or down stairs.

Pain when standing on 1 leg (for example, when you’re getting dressed).

Pain when turning over in bed or moving your legs apart (for example, when you get out of a car).

There may be a clicking or grinding sensation in the pubic region or pelvic joints.

It may be painful to lie on your side.

It may be difficult / painful to carry out normal daily activities like washing the dishes.

You may find having sex painful.

Causes:

Changes in hormones.

A history of previous low-back and pelvic girdle pain.

Previous trauma to the pelvis region.

If you have had more than one pregnancy then you are more likely to suffer with SPD / PGP (Pelvic Girdle Pain).

If you carry out a manual-type job with repetitive / awkward lifting positions.

You are also more likely to suffer with pelvic related pain if you have an increased body BMI prior to and and/or by the end of pregnancy.

If you have increased mobility of other joints in the body, this may leave you more susceptible to pelvic related pain (either at the pubic or other pelvic joints).

Here is what the evidence says about the treatment options:

Really useful links that we think you’ll love:

PGP podcast: We would highly recommend this podcast for all things PGP: Top tips for pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy – FitNest Mama

In addition to the above treatments, the POGP (Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy Association) suggest that you also try to avoid:

What symptoms to watch out for:

If you have any of the following symptoms then go to your nearest accident and emergency department immediately:

Severe low back pain.

Pain, numbness, or weakness in one or both legs that causes you to stumble or have trouble getting up from a chair.

Loss of or altered sensations in your legs, buttocks, inner thighs, feet or areas that you sit on when in a chair (including genitals / anus) that is severe or gets worse and worse.

Recent problem with bladder or bowel function, such as trouble eliminating urine or waste (retention) or trouble holding it (incontinence).

Sexual dysfunction that has come on suddenly.

Cauda Equina Syndrome is a very rare but very serious condition that must be addressed immediately to prevent any lasting damage to the nerves involved.

About The Author

Pain In The Bump Family