title: Adherence, tolerance and effectiveness of two different pelvic support belts as a treatment for pregnancy-related symphyseal pain - a pilot randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnancy-related pubic symphysis pain is relatively common and can significantly interfere with daily activities. Physiotherapist-prescribed pelvic support belts are a treatment option, but little evidence exists to support their use. This pilot compared two pelvic belts to determine effectiveness (symptomatic relief), tolerance (comfort) and adherence (frequency, duration of use).
  
  
  METHODS
  Unblinded, 2-arm, single-center, randomized (1:1) parallel-group trial. Twenty pregnant women recruited from the community (Dunedin, New Zealand), with physiotherapist-diagnosed symphyseal pain, were randomly allocated to wear either a flexible or rigid belt for three weeks. One author, not involved in data collection, randomized the allocation to trial group. The unblinded primary outcome was the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). Secondary outcomes were pain intensity during the preceding 24 hours and preceding week (visual analogue scale [VAS]), and disability (Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire [MODQ]). Duration of use (hours) was recorded daily by text messaging. Participants were assessed at baseline, by weekly phone interviews and at intervention completion (three weeks). To assess comfort, women wore the alternate belt in the fourth week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty pregnant women (mean ± SD age, 29.4 ± 6.5 years; mean gestation at baseline, 30.8 ± 5.2 weeks) were randomized to treatment groups (flexible = 10, rigid =10) and all were included in analysis. When adjusted for baseline, PSFS scores were not significantly different between groups at follow up (mean difference -0.1; 95% CI: -2.5 to 2.3; p =0.94). Pain in the preceding 24 hours reached statistical significance in favor of the flexible belt (VAS, p = 0.049). Combining both groups' data, function and pain were significantly improved at three weeks (mean difference -2.3; 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.5; p< 0.001). Belts were worn for an average of 4.9 ± 2.9 hours per day; women preferred the flexible belt. No adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results suggest the flexible pelvic support belt may be more effective in reducing pain and is potentially better tolerated than a rigid belt. Based on these data, a larger trial is both feasible and clinically useful.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12614000898651 , 25th August, 2014.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. natasha.flack@anatomy.otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Natasha A M S
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Flack
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. jean.hay-smith@otago.ac.nz.|Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. jean.hay-smith@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: E Jean C
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hay-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. mark.stringer@anatomy.otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. andrew.gray@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. stephanie.woodley@anatomy.otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Stephanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Woodley
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance; D057240:Patient Preference; D059388:Pelvic Girdle Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome