title: Comparison between the effect of lumbopelvic belt and home based pelvic stabilizing exercise on pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain; a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pelvic girdle pain is a common complaint of pregnant women. There are limited data on comparison between the effectiveness of stabilizing exercises and lumbopelvic belt on the treatment of these patients. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of lumbopelvic belt plus information, home based pelvic girdle stabilizing exercises plus information and information alone on pain intensity, functional status and quality of life of pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized clinical trial pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain (n=105) were randomly allocated to three groups; Control group (n=35) that received general information, exercise group (n=31) that in addition to general information were asked to perform specific pelvic stabilizing exercises at home and belt group (n=31) that received non-rigid lumbopelvic belt and the information. The primary outcome variables were pain intensity and functional status of the participants which were measured using visual analogue scale and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) respectively. Quality of life of participants was measured using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. All measurements were performed at baseline, 3 and 6 weeks after the study conduction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pain intensity of patients in belt group in comparison to other groups was decreased significantly at both 3 and 6 weeks follow-ups. The mean score of ODI of patients in belt group was also improved more than exercise and control groups significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On base of our results, it can be found that in short term lumbopelvic belt and information in treatment of pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain is superior to exercise plus information or information alone.
authors: Sport Medicine Research Center, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ramin
authors: R
authors: Kordi
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Abolhasani
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Rostami
authors: Sedigheh
authors: S
authors: Hantoushzadeh
authors: Mohammad Ali
authors: MA
authors: Mansournia
authors: Farzaneh
authors: F
authors: Vasheghani-Farahani
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D059388:Pelvic Girdle Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life