Effects of a New Mattress and Pillow and Standard Treatment for Nightly Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnant Women: A Randomised Controlled Study

Caroline Feldthusen; Monika Fagevik Olsen; Hasse Ejnell; Helen Elden

doi:10.2147/IJWH.S335977

Effects of a New Mattress and Pillow and Standard Treatment for Nightly Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnant Women: A Randomised Controlled Study

Int J Womens Health. 2021 Dec 16:13:1251-1260. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S335977. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Caroline Feldthusen^{1

2}, Monika Fagevik Olsen^{1

2}, Hasse Ejnell³, Helen Elden^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Region Västra Götaland, Department of Physical Therapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
² Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology/Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
³ Region Västra Götaland, Department of Rhinolaryngology, Head and Neck, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁴ Region Västra Götaland, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁵ Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a memory-foam mattress and pillow plus standard treatment for nightly pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy.

Method: In this randomised controlled study conducted at a tertiary-care hospital, 66 pregnant women who had nightly PGP were enrolled to receive standard treatment with the mattress and pillow (intervention group, n = 34) or solely standard treatment (control group, n = 32). The primary outcome was change in nightly posterior PGP on a visual analogue scale, VAS from baseline to 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes include nightly anterior PGP, the evening PGP score, estimated sleep duration, number of nightly wake-ups, daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale), function (Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire), health-related quality of life, and pain catastrophizing.

Results: Forty-four women (67%) completed the treatment. The difference in nightly posterior pain intensity was significantly different in favour of the intervention group (VAS, 16.5 mm (95% CI 1.4:31.6) p = 0.028). Sleep duration increased within both groups (intervention group: 26 min, p = 0.022; control group: 14 min, p = 0.014) and the difference between groups was significant (p = 0.046). In addition, the intervention group indicated a decreased evening PGP intensity (p = 0.008) and fewer nightly wake-ups (p = 0.049). The control group showed a deterioration in function (Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire) (p = 0.018) and an increase in daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale) (p = 0.021) from baseline to 4 weeks.

Conclusion: In conclusion, significantly lower nightly posterior PGP intensity was noted after the use of a mattress and pillow as an adjunct to standard treatment. Nightly PGP can have adverse effects on various aspects of the health and quality of life of pregnant women, and although the results of this study should be interpreted with caution considering the high drop-out rate and the inadequate statistical power, the findings indicate the potential for the use of such interventions to improve PGP in pregnant women.

Keywords: nightly pain; pelvic girdle pain; pregnancy; randomised controlled trial; sleep disturbance.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Foundation of the Health and Medical care committee of the Region of Västra Götaland, Sweden (VGFOUREG-757191, VGFOUREG-846141).