Diagnosis of Pelvic Girdle Pain

Chapter

Abstract

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP), defined as musculoskeletal pain between the posterior iliac crest and the gluteal fold, is a common occurrence during pregnancy. The etiology of the pain is likely multifactorial but due in large part to the ligament laxity, instability, and biomechanical dysfunction of the pelvic joints and muscles that occur during pregnancy. As a result of these changes, patients can experience pain in the region of the sacroiliac joint and/or the pubic symphysis. Posterior PGP often radiates down the posterior thigh and is associated with transitional movements. Due to limitations on the use of imaging and diagnostic injection modalities in pregnant patients, a thorough history and physical are the keys to diagnosis. Knowledge of risk factors for pregnancy PGP, reviewed in this chapter, informs the history taking, which can in turn help guide the physical examination. A combination of specific clinical tests that reproduce the pain or functional disturbances should be performed to differentiate PGP from other sources of pain in the region. We describe the way to perform each of these tests, provide images of them, and review their sensitivity and specificity for PGP in pregnancy.

Keywords

Pelvic girdle pain Pregnancy low back pain Sacroiliac joint pain Pubic symphysis pain 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Rehabilitation MedicineWeill Cornell Medical College—New York PresbyterianNew YorkUSA

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