Incidence, pain, and mobility assessment of pregnant women with sacroiliac dysfunction

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the incidence of sacroiliac dysfunction in pregnancy and assess its progress during the course of the pregnancy.

Methods: The present prospective cohort study, performed between April 1, 2013, and May 31, 2016, enrolled primigravidae aged 25-35 years before 13 weeks of pregnancies who were experiencing back pain and did not have prior symptoms of sacroiliac dysfunction. Participants attended regular follow-up over 6 months and clinical functional tests were used to diagnose sacroiliac dysfunction. Women with sacroiliac dysfunction were assessed at 3-week intervals with a numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and the pregnancy mobility index (PMI).

Results: Among 1500 women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 1181 (78.7%) were diagnosed with sacroiliac dysfunction and 1143 completed all follow-up. Pain assessed by the NPRS gradually worsened from the first toward the third trimester (P<0.001). The level of disability assessed by the PMI also increased from the beginning to the end of pregnancy (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Sacroiliac dysfunction represents an important problem during pregnancy; pain severity and mobility problems increased during the course of pregnancy in the present study.

Australian new zealand clinical trials registry: ACTRN12613000246785.

Keywords: Incidence; Mobility assessment; Pain; Pregnancy; Sacroiliac dysfunction.