The efficacy of a treatment program focusing on specific stabilizing exercises for pelvic girdle pain after pregnancy: a two-year follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.
METHODS
A randomized clinical trial.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of a treatment program focusing on specific stabilizing exercises after a 2-year follow-up period.


BACKGROUND
An individualized treatment approach with specific stabilizing exercises is shown to be effective for women with pelvic girdle pain 1 year after delivery. No previous study has examined the long-term effects of treatment for women with postpartum pelvic girdle pain.


METHODS
Eighty-one women with pelvic girdle pain postpartum were assigned randomly to 2 treatment groups for 20 weeks. Patient self-reported questionnaires measuring pain, disability, and health-related quality of life were collected after 20 weeks of treatment and 1 and 2 years postpartum.


RESULTS
All 81 women returned the questionnaires for the 2-year follow-up. Sixteen were excluded from the analysis, mainly due to new pregnancies. The significant differences between the groups in functional status, pain, and physical health (SF-36) were maintained 2 years after delivery. Minimal disability was found in 85% of the specific stabilizing exercise group as compared to 47% in the control group. The control group showed significant improvement in functional status with median change score of 6.0 (Q1-Q3 of -12-0). Minimal evening pain was reported by 68% in the specific stabilizing exercise group versus 23% in the control group. However, the group differences disappeared for all measures when controlling for score level 1 year after delivery by regression analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant differences between the groups persisted with continued low levels of pain and disability in the specific stabilizing exercise group 2 years after delivery. Significant reduction in disability was found within the control group. Those with the highest level of disability and greatest potential for improvements recovered most, regardless of intervention group.
Stuge
Britt
B
Section for Health Science, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. britt.Stuge@medisin.uio.no
Veierød
Marit Bragelien
MB
Laerum
Even
E
Vøllestad
Nina
N
D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome