Acupuncture and Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy

Pelvic girdle pain is a common complaint among pregnant women worldwide, and it causes severe pain in one third of affected women. Strenuous work, previous low back pain, and previous pelvic girdle pain are known risk factors. Pelvic girdle pain generally arises in relation to pregnancy, trauma, or reactive arthritis. Pain is experienced between the posterior iliac crest and the gluteal fold, particularly in the vicinity of the sacroiliac joints. The pain may radiate in the posterior thigh and can occur in conjunction or separately in the symphysis. The endurance capacity for standing, walking, and sitting is diminished. Acupuncture can help to ease pelvic pain during pregnancy.

 

Acupuncture for Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy Research

The objective of a randomised single blind controlled trial involving 386 pregnant women was to compare the efficacy of standard treatment for pelvic pain (a pelvic belt, patient education and home exercisers- for abdominal and gluteal muscles) to standard treatment plus acupuncture or standard treatment plus physiotherapy stabilising exercisers (for the deep lumbopelvic muscles).

The study concluded that acupuncture as well as stabilising exercises constitute effective complements to standard treatment for pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain. Acupuncture was superior to stabilising exercises in this study.

"Effects of acupuncture and stabilising exercises as adjunct to standard treatment in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain: randomised single blind controlled trial" British Medical Journal 2005;330:761 (2 April),

Acupuncture in Pregnancy Testimonial

Acupuncture in Pregnancy Case Study

The London Acupuncture Space has undergone extensive training in Fertility Acupuncture and Obstetrics Acupuncture at the Royal College of Physicians in London and at the reknowned Zita West Fertility Clinic.