The Effectiveness of Massage in Managing Pregnant Women with Pelvic Girdle Pain: a Randomised Controlled Crossover Feasibility Study.

Introduction: Pelvic girdle pain is a common problem experienced during pregnancy, with high incidence rates and significant impacts on quality of life. Remedial massage might be able to provide some reduction in pain. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of massage in treating pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain to determine its merits and viability for use in a large-scale study. Methods: A two-arm pilot randomised feasibility crossover-controlled trial. The two treatment phases were a) remedial pregnancy massage, and b) exercise. Results: Twenty-four women started the study and 19 women completed the study. Data were collected on recruitment and retention rates, crossover study design methodology, participant sub-characteristics, and acceptability of the outcome measures (pain, quality of life, and disability). Conclusion: Recruiting participants for a pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain study is indeed feasible; however, a crossover study design is not appropriate and future studies should consider a mixed methods study design.

Pregnancy-related Pelvic Girdle Pain and Pregnancy Massage: Findings from a Subgroup Analysis of an Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) significantly impacts women's lives both physically and psychologically. Given the severity and impact of PPGP on pregnancy, the authors anticipated that pregnant women with PPGP might respond differently to massage than pregnant women without PPGP. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to further analyze a published 2017 study to assess the response of pregnancy massage in participants with and without PPGP. SETTING: Two massage clinics, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne, recruited participants from December 2016 to December 2017. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen women with PPGP and 78 without PPGP. RESEARCH DESIGN: PPGP and non-PPGP women receiving at least one massage, with outcome measures assessed immediately prior to and after massage, and again one week postmassage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog scales for pain, stress, range of movement, sleep, and self-reported side effects of massage. RESULTS: Both groups changed significantly and similarly over time for measures of pain, stress, range of motion, and sleep (all p < .05). Post hoc analysis found significant reduction in all outcome measures immediately following massage, but returned to baseline at one week postmassage for all measures except pain, which remained reduced for the PPGP group (49.79±25.68 to 34.75±34.75, p = .03, effect size 0.593), and stress remained reduced in the non-PPGP group (33.36±21.54 to 24.90±19.18, p = .002, effect size 0.373). The PPGP group entered the study with higher baseline levels of pain (p = .01) and a greater restriction in range of motion (p = .006) than the non-PPGP group. There was no difference in the number of side effects experienced between the two groups (p = .130). CONCLUSIONS: Although PPGP clients report greater pain and restriction in range of motion at baseline than non-PPGP clients, the response to pregnancy massage was similar. Results support a role of pregnancy massage in the management of PPGP. More research on massage for PPGP is needed to confirm a lasting effect of pain reduction from massage.

The side effects and mother or child related physical harm from massage during pregnancy and the postpartum period: An observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Women commonly use massage therapy during pregnancy for pregnancy-related health conditions such as lower back and neck pain; however, there is little to no research related evidence on the side effects or mother or child physical harm of massage during pregnancy and the postnatal period. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to report on the side effects and mother or child physical harm of massage during pregnancy and the postnatal period. DESIGN: An observational study methodology. SETTING AND TIME FRAME: Two massage clinics, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne recruited participants from December 2016 to December 2017. INTERVENTION: Massage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Side effects and mother or child physical harm from massage. RESULTS: One hundred and one participants were recruited to the study. Two fifths of the participants (n = 32, 40%) experienced one of more post-massage side effects. There were no mother or child physical harm events. Low back pain was the most common condition women sought massage treatment for 34 (33.7.%). A significant benefit (p < 0.001) was seen pre-massage to post-massage and pre-massage to 1-week post massage in decreasing stress, decreasing pain, increasing range of motion and improving sleep DISCUSSION: Similar to previous research, low back pain was the most common condition that women sought massage treatment for followed by hip pain, shoulder pain, neck pain and to improve mental health. Ninety-seven percent of the cohort received a full body massage including the feet leading credence that 'massage on the feet during pregnancy is harmful' is mythic in nature. CONCLUSION: While our findings lead credence that massage on the feet during pregnancy is a myth the study was not powered to determine the safety of pregnancy massage and further research is needed. Massage was commonly sought for low back pain with promising benefits in decreased pain and improved range of movement and further research on the effectiveness of massage for low back pain in pregnancy.