Prevalence and Risk Factors of Symptom-Giving Pelvic Girdle Relaxation in Pregnant Women

Moon, Woo Nam; Kim, Tae Jin; Yoon, Jae Bum; Oh, Han Jin

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was done to evaluate the risk factors and prevalence of symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation in pregnant women.
METHODS
Three hundreds thirty-two postpartum women were asked to fill out a questionnaire within one week after their parturition. The diagnostic criteria of this lesion were adopted from the Norwegian Medical Association's and Larsen's criteria. The questionnaire were included age, parity, BMI(kg/cm2), weight gain during the pregnancy, history of symptom giving pelvic girdle relaxation in previous pregnancy, level of exercise and vocational status during and before the pregnancy and baby's birth weight. The answers were evaluated to determine the risk factors. The correlation was tested by student t-test and logistic regression.
RESULTS
The prevalence of symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation during pregnancy was 18.9%. The history of symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation in previous pregnancy, multiparity and the absence of regular exercise before and during pregnancy showed correlation with symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation in pregnancy (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
It is suggested that women who experienced symptom-giving pelvic girdle relaxation in previous pregnancy should be checked for this lesion before pregnancy. Regular exercise is required to lower the incidence and lessen the severity of this lesion in pregnancy.