1- Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan Iran.
2- Department of Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
3- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan Iran. ,sadeghi@rehab.mui.ac.ir
2- Department of Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
3- Musculoskeletal Research Center, Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan Iran. ,
Abstract: (24 Views)
Background: Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) is a prevalent and disabling condition during pregnancy that is associated with functional limitations and psychological consequences. Although pelvic belts are widely used as a conservative treatment for PPGP, evidence regarding their effects on pain-related cognitive factors and muscle activity remains limited. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of pelvic belt use on pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, functional status, and selected muscle activity in pregnant women with PPGP.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 35 pregnant women with PPGP (mean age: 36.70 ± 7.90 years; mean weight: 71.43 ± 10.85 kg), who were randomly assigned to either a pelvic belt group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 18). Participants in the intervention group wore a pelvic belt during daily activities for 14 days, whereas those in the control group received usual care. Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), pain catastrophizing (rumination, magnification, helplessness, and total score) measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), functional status evaluated with the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ), and electromyographic activity of the multifidus, gluteus maximus, hamstrings, and internal oblique muscles assessed by surface electromyography (sEMG). Data were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Results: Following the 14-day intervention, participants in the pelvic belt group showed significantly greater reductions in pain intensity than those in the control group (P = 0.005). Significant improvements were also observed in the rumination (P = 0.001), magnification (P = 0.004), and total pain catastrophizing scores (P = 0.005), as well as in the activity (P < 0.001), symptom (P = 0.001), and total PGQ scores (P = 0.001). No significant changes were detected for the helplessness subscale (P > 0.05), and electromyographic activity did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Short-term use of a pelvic belt in pregnant women with PPGP was associated with reduced pain intensity, improved functional status, and improvements in specific dimensions of pain catastrophizing; however, it did not alter the electromyographic activity of the selected muscles. These findings support the use of pelvic belts as a conservative and low-cost intervention for the management of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 35 pregnant women with PPGP (mean age: 36.70 ± 7.90 years; mean weight: 71.43 ± 10.85 kg), who were randomly assigned to either a pelvic belt group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 18). Participants in the intervention group wore a pelvic belt during daily activities for 14 days, whereas those in the control group received usual care. Outcome measures included pain intensity assessed with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), pain catastrophizing (rumination, magnification, helplessness, and total score) measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), functional status evaluated with the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ), and electromyographic activity of the multifidus, gluteus maximus, hamstrings, and internal oblique muscles assessed by surface electromyography (sEMG). Data were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Results: Following the 14-day intervention, participants in the pelvic belt group showed significantly greater reductions in pain intensity than those in the control group (P = 0.005). Significant improvements were also observed in the rumination (P = 0.001), magnification (P = 0.004), and total pain catastrophizing scores (P = 0.005), as well as in the activity (P < 0.001), symptom (P = 0.001), and total PGQ scores (P = 0.001). No significant changes were detected for the helplessness subscale (P > 0.05), and electromyographic activity did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Short-term use of a pelvic belt in pregnant women with PPGP was associated with reduced pain intensity, improved functional status, and improvements in specific dimensions of pain catastrophizing; however, it did not alter the electromyographic activity of the selected muscles. These findings support the use of pelvic belts as a conservative and low-cost intervention for the management of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain.
Keywords: Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, Pelvic belt, Pain catastrophizing, Electromyography, function
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Orthotics & Prosthetics
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This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 (CC-By-NC 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
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