Adapted Physical Activity and Pelvic Floor Function for Pelvic Girdle Pain During Pregnancy

Summary

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a common condition during pregnancy, affecting up to two-thirds of women. It can cause significant discomfort, limit daily activities, and reduce quality of life. Current treatment options are limited, and many women continue to experience pain throughout pregnancy and even after childbirth.

This study will evaluate whether a structured program of adapted physical activity, with additional individualized pelvic floor rehabilitation when needed, can reduce pelvic girdle pain and improve function during pregnancy. The intervention consists of weekly 60-minute sessions of adapted physical activity, led by a pelvic health physiotherapist, from inclusion until 36-38 weeks of gestation. The exercises focus on lumbopelvic stability, mobility, strengthening, and safe aerobic activity. If a participant presents with pelvic floor dysfunction, individualized rehabilitation may be added in parallel.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (adapted physical activity ± pelvic floor rehabilitation) or a control group. The control group will receive standard pregnancy follow-up care plus a validated flyer with international recommendations on physical activity during pregnancy but without supervised sessions.

The primary outcomes are pain intensity and functional impact of PGP, measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ). Secondary outcomes include self-reported physical activity, pelvic symptoms, pelvic floor function, adherence to the intervention, and acceptability of the program.

A total of 40 pregnant women will be enrolled at Hospital La Tour in Geneva, Switzerland. Assessments will take place at three time points: inclusion (≤27 weeks of gestation), late pregnancy (36-38 weeks), and 3 months after delivery.

The study is expected to provide new evidence on the benefits of integrating pelvic floor functionality into physical activity programs for pregnant women with PGP. If effective, this approach could inform clinical practice and improve care for women during pregnancy

Conditions

• Pelvic Girdle Pain
• Pregnancy
• Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Adapted Physical Activity

Group-based, weekly supervised 60-minute sessions including mobility, stability, strengthening, and aerobic exercises adapted for pregnancy and pelvic girdle pain.

BEHAVIORAL

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

Individual physiotherapy sessions using the PERFECT scheme to assess and retrain pelvic floor muscle function, including education, manual therapy, relaxation, and strengthening

OTHER

Standard Care (in control arm)

Usual prenatal care provided by obstetricians or midwives according to local practice.

OTHER

Educational Flyer

Written information with evidence-based international guidelines on physical activity during pregnancy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• La Tour Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Haute Ecole de Santé Vaud

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-30

Primary Completion

2027-03-31

Completion

2027-10-31