Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) in Pregnancy

1 in 5 ladies will develop pain around the pelvis or back in pregnancy. These symptoms can be temporary, and don't always get worse as your pregnancy progresses. However the intensity of pain can vary from person to person. Some will find discomfort with long walks, running or getting in and out of the car, whilst others will find their mobility, ability to work and sleep are affected.

Specialised Physiotherapy Treatments for Pelvic Girdle Treatment (PGP)

• Manual therapy - hands on techniques (eg massage) to help with muscles, ligaments tendons and joint that are causing symptoms.

• Exercise therapy - Progressive exercise programs under the careful watch of your physio to begin strengthening, support, strength and flexibilty around the pelvis to ease symptoms.

• Pelvic Floor - if weakend - pelvic floor strengthening exercises to improve support and strength around the pelvis. If there aresymptoms of increased tension in the pelvic floor then relaxation and lengthening techniques help.

• Support Belts - seek advice about appropriate support belts specific to you needs, your physio can fit you a belt that is suitbale for you.

• Exercise in water - We are super lucky to have the David Lloyd pool, so we often take our pregnancy ladies into the pool for their physio.

• Acupuncture - using fine needles into specific points to reduce pain, relax muscles, reduce inflammation.

• Tens machines - drug free pain option to reduce pain, encouraged the bodys natural painkilles (such as endorphins) Not recommended before 37 weeks.

• Birth Preparation - working with a physio to plan labour postions can ease anxety about how PGP will affect birth and help you to stay active while managing pain.

• Emotional Support - physio sessions arent just about the exercises and pain relief techniques, it also plays a crucial role in emotional support which can direcly impact pain perception and recovery. PGP can sometimes feel frustrating, isololating and sometimes distressing. Compassionate and holistic physio session will ensure you feel supported, validated and empowered in your recovery.

Further Reading

Have a read of the POGP Booklet on PGP

Recommendations

The Serola Belt can be really helpful for a lot of ladies with PGP symptoms, whether that be every day life, running or deadlifts in the gym! They come up quite small so size up!

Tens Machines - I personally love this one! It not all singing all dancing but it does exactly what it says on the tin!

To book and appointment click here, or to ask any questions please email.