Physical therapy interventions for pelvic girdle pain (PGP) after pregnancy

Abstract

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: The primary objective of this systematic review is to assess the efficacy of a range of physical therapy interventions for the management of PGP following pregnancy. We will assess efficacy in terms of reduced pain, improved disability/functional status, improved overall health/health-related quality of life, and treatment success (participant-reported). We will compare each intervention/modality of physical therapy considered as a relevant intervention in the treatment of pelvic girdle pain (PGP) after pregnancy to: no treatment; placebo/sham treatment; or conservative treatments not considered as physical therapy (such as acupuncture, cognitive-behavioral treatment etc.). In subsequent investigations we will compare the efficacy of different physical therapy interventions/modalities when compared against each other (head-to-head comparison). We will do this for the same outcomes as above (reduced pain and disability and improved health-related quality of life).