To investigate whether women who experienced pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy were able to engage in meaningful activities at 4 months and 3 years post partum, and to identify factors associated with long-term functional outcomes.

Long-term follow-up of a randomised controlled trial comparing acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pregnancy-related PGP.

Physiotherapy outpatient clinics in Sweden.

In total, 113 pregnant women with clinically verified PGP were randomised in the original trial; 86 participated in the initial study phase, 77 attended the 4-month follow-up and 57 completed the 3-year follow-up questionnaire.

The primary outcome was functioning, assessed using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). Secondary outcomes included self-reported PGP, overall functioning and the prognostic value of pelvic pain provocation tests at 4 months post partum for persistent PGP at 3 years.

3 years post partum, the mean PSFS score was 8.64, and 45.6% of the participants scored 10, indicating full return to baseline activities. In repeated linear regression analyses, estimated PSFS scores were approximately 3 points lower at baseline and post-treatment compared with the 3-year follow-up (both p

Most women with pregnancy-related PGP regained functioning by 4 months post partum, and this recovery was sustained at 3 years. The number of positive pelvic provocation tests at 4 months post partum predicted persistent pain at 3 years, suggesting potential prognostic value for identifying women at risk of long-term PGP and informing postpartum follow-up strategies.

In ‘FoU i Sverige’ (R&D in Sweden) No. 12726. https://www.researchweb.org/is/sverige/project/127261.