Abstract
Background: Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) affects 50% of pregnant women worldwide. PGP increases with advancing pregnancy with considerable impact on quality of life, interfering with sleep, daily activities, work, motherhood and close interpersonal relationships. The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is increasingly prevalent among pregnant women, particularly for pregnancy-induced back pain. Craniosacral treatment (CST) is a CAM that has shown symptom relieving effects in pregnancy-related back pain. The purpose of this study was to describe women’s experiences of the treatment. Methods: Twenty-seven women receiving CST plus standard treatment (ST) were interviewed following 3 of 5 treatments with CST by two qualified and experienced CST practitioners. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The experience of CST by pregnant women diagnosed with severe PGP can be described in three categories: An unfamiliar and different treatment method; description of treatment effects, and regaining a personal and social life.
Highlights
Women described how Craniosacral treatment (CST) provided them with new awareness of their widespread muscle tension
They told of how they experienced increased body awareness, distraction from pain, relaxation and calm, and feelings of security and optimism. These factors may have helped them actively improve posture and lower muscle tension thereby relieving the symptoms of Pelvic girdle pain (PGP)
The present study reports a contextual interpretation of previously published quantitative data, as it provides a deeper understanding of total symptom relief from PGP during pregnancy
Summary
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a major health issue, affecting about 50% of pregnant women [1, 2] at all socio-economic levels [3], resulting in sick leave [4] and possible long-term pain [5,6,7]. PGP is a musculoskeletal pain concentrated to an area between the posterior iliac crests and gluteal folds, in the sacroiliac joint area. This can occur with or without pain in the symphysis [19]. Women affected with PGP typically adapt abnormal antalgic patterns of muscle activity The longer these patterns persist, the more pain arises from unphysiological loading of muscles and joints. PGP usually gets worse as pregnancy advances causing dysfunction and reduced health-related quality of life [19]. Other studies have described how women with PGP saw their pain as predominant and beyond control, leading to feelings of uncertainty [25], and sometimes even of fearing for their mental health [26]. The purpose of this study was to describe women’s experiences of the treatment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
