Contraction of the transverse abdominal muscle in pelvic girdle pain is enhanced by pain provocation during the task.

Background: Understanding of the pathogenesis of pain in the lumbopelvic region remains a challenge. It is suggested that lumbopelvic pain is related to decreased contraction of the transverse abdominal muscles (TrA).

Objective: To investigate how pain provoked by a task influences TrA contraction during that task.

Does a pelvic belt reduce hip adduction weakness in pregnancy-related posterior pelvic girdle pain? A case-control study.

Background: The cause of non-specific lumbopelvic pain is unknown. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain seems to be a subgroup that deserves a specific treatment. One of the options is the use of a pelvic belt.

The Active Straight Leg Raise test in lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy.

Although many properties of the Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR) test as a diagnostic test in lumbopelvic pain (LPP) are well documented, various elements are lacking. A cross-sectional study was performed to compute sensitivity and specificity, to assess the advantages and disadvantages of various cutoff points, to analyze the relation between the ASLR test and the Posterior Pelvic Pain Provocation (PPPP) test, and to investigate the relation with confounders. Data of 110 women with LPP and 72 without LPP were available.

Severity of signs and symptoms in lumbopelvic pain during pregnancy.

Data on the severity of signs and symptoms of lumbopelvic pain (LPP) during pregnancy are scarce. Therefore, this cross-sectional study examines the severity of LPP and pain-related signs and symptoms. Women with an uncomplicated pregnancy of 20-30 weeks were invited to participate.

The effect of experimental groin pain on abdominal muscle thickness.

Objectives: It is not clear whether abnormal abdominal muscle behavior in athletes with longstanding groin pain is a risk factor for groin pain or is caused by groin pain itself. Therefore, this study investigated whether anticipation of experimental groin pain influences abdominal muscle behavior.

Methods: In 14 healthy athletes, abdominal muscle thickness was measured using ultrasound under conditions of anticipated groin pain and acute groin pain.

Relation between subjective and objective scores on the active straight leg raising test.

Design: Cross sectional.

Objective: To fill a gap in the validation of the active straight leg raising (ASLR) test concerning the relation between a patient's subjective score on the ASLR test and the objective measured force.

Summary Of Background Data: The ASLR test is used to classify patients presenting with pain in the low back and/or pelvic girdle.

Mobility of the pelvic joints in pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain: a systematic review.

About 45% of all pregnant women and 25% of all women postpartum suffer from pelvic girdle pain and/or low back pain (PLPP). It has been suggested that increased motion of the three joints in the pelvic ring is one of the causes of PLPP. However, in spite of the availability of high technology the relation between enlarged motion of the pelvic joints and pain remains unclear.

Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: intertester reliability of 3 tests to determine asymmetric mobility of the sacroiliac joints.

Objective: Several tests have been developed to determine the extent of sacroiliac asymmetry during pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP). This blinded control study investigated the intertester reliability of 3 such tests used in PGP.

Methods: A total of 62 women (ages 20-40 years) were recruited from regional obstetric practices and subsequently divided into 3 groups: (1) 20 women without PGP who were pregnant for more than 20 weeks, (2) 22 women with PGP who were pregnant for more than 20 weeks, and (3) a control group of 20 women who were not pregnant and had no back pain or PGP.

The mechanical effect of a pelvic belt in patients with pregnancy-related pelvic pain.

Background: Many patients with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain experience relief of pain when using a pelvic belt, which makes its use a common part of the therapy, but there is no in vivo proof of the mechanical effect of the application of a pelvic belt.

Methods: The influence of a pelvic belt on sacroiliac joint laxity values was tested in 25 subjects with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain by means of Doppler imaging of vibrations in prone position with and without the application of a pelvic belt. The belt was adjusted just below the anterior superior iliac spines (high position) and at the level of the pubic symphysis (low position).

The use of medication in low back pain.

The choice of medication for low back pain should be evidence based and tailored as much as possible to suit the individual patient. Acetaminophen (paracetamol), mild opioids and NSAIDs are the first-line drugs for low back pain but there is no evidence that one is more effective than the others. Non-benzodiazepine muscle relaxants (with or without pain medication) could be considered as second-line drugs in acute low back pain, and cyclic antidepressants in chronic low back pain.

Reliability and validity of hip adduction strength to measure disease severity in posterior pelvic pain since pregnancy.

Study Design: A cross-sectional analysis was performed in patients with posterior pelvic pain since pregnancy (PPPP). The strength of adduction of the hips was measured and compared with the scores of commonly used disease severity measures of lumbopelvic pain.

Objectives: To assess the reliability and validity of using hip adduction strength as measure of disease severity in patients with PPPP.

Possible role of the long dorsal sacroiliac ligament in women with peripartum pelvic pain.

Background: To enhance the understanding of the pathophysiology of women with peripartum pelvic pain, it is necessary to couple anatomical insights with relevant clinical research. In this context, the long dorsal sacroiliac ligament is especially of interest because it was noticed that women diagnosed with peripartum pelvic pain frequently experience pain within the boundaries of this ligament. Njoo (1) found a high intertester reliability and a high specificity for long dorsal sacroiliac ligament pain.

Responsiveness of outcome measurements in rehabilitation of patients with posterior pelvic pain since pregnancy.

Study Design: A cohort study was conducted.

Objective: To develop a test battery for evaluating the course of posterior pelvic pain since pregnancy.

Summary Of Background Data: Properly validated scales to evaluate the course of posterior pelvic pain since pregnancy are scarce.

Validity of the active straight leg raise test for measuring disease severity in patients with posterior pelvic pain after pregnancy.

Study Design: A cross-sectional analysis was performed with a group of women meeting strict criteria for posterior pelvic pain after pregnancy. The active straight leg raise test and common severity measurement scales of lumbopelvic pain were scored.

Objective: To assess the validity of the active straight leg raise test as a disease severity scale for patients with posterior pelvic pain after pregnancy.