Back Pain Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Back Pain, including details on lower back pain, sciatica, treatment, prevention, medication.

A historical perspective on pregnancy-related low back and/or pelvic girdle pain.

Bastiaanssen JM, de Bie RA, Bastiaenen CH, Essed GG, van den Brandt PA

Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. J.Bastiaanssen@epid.unimaas.nl

The growing interest in pregnancy-related low back and/or pelvic girdle pain has invoked research projects to this subject. Although it seems a modern syndrome, historical articles show that pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) was already known centuries ago. The purpose of the present article is to provide a summary review of performed studies on pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. Remarkably, these studies show large differences in results with regard to, for example, incidence rates and relevant etiologic factors of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. These differences can be explained by the use of different definitions and descriptions of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain between studies. In conclusion, it is necessary to search for an evidence-based overall definition of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain in order to provide more knowledge about incidence rates, etiologic factors and other related subjects.

Published 3 May 2005 in Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 120(1): 3-14.
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