Pelvic Girdle Pain During Pregnancy: A Physio's Guide

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is pain around the pelvis — typically the sacroiliac joints at the back, the pubic symphysis at the front, or both — that occurs during pregnancy. It affects up to 20% of pregnant women and ranges from mild discomfort to debilitating pain that makes walking, climbing stairs, and turning in bed genuinely difficult. The good news is that it's very treatable.

Why does PGP happen?

During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin increases joint laxity throughout the body to prepare for birth. The pelvis is particularly affected. When the ligaments supporting the pelvic joints become more elastic, those joints rely more heavily on the surrounding muscles for stability. If that muscular support isn't sufficient — or if the load on the pelvis changes faster than the muscles can adapt — pain develops.

Common symptoms

• Pain deep in the buttock or at the back of the pelvis, sometimes radiating into the thigh
• Pain at the front of the pelvis or pubic bone, especially when walking or climbing stairs
• A clicking or grinding sensation in the pelvis
• Pain with weight-bearing on one leg (getting dressed, stepping into a car)
• Difficulty turning over in bed at night
• Waddling gait or a tendency to take smaller steps

What physiotherapy involves

Treatment focuses on reducing load on the affected joints while improving the muscular support around them. This typically includes targeted exercises to strengthen the glutes, deep hip rotators, and pelvic floor; manual therapy to address joint stiffness in the lumbar spine or hips that may be contributing; education about positions and movements to avoid; and advice on activity modification that keeps you moving without aggravating symptoms.

A pelvic support belt

A sacroiliac belt worn low around the pelvis can provide significant relief during activities that load the joint, such as walking or standing for extended periods. Your physiotherapist can advise on correct positioning and when to use it. It's a compression aid, not a long-term solution — but it can make daily life much more manageable while your rehab progresses.

The importance of early treatment

PGP that is assessed and treated early responds much better than symptoms that are left to progress. Women who develop severe PGP in one pregnancy are more likely to experience it again in subsequent pregnancies — and earlier. Getting on top of it in the second trimester gives you the best chance of staying active through to term.

Mobile physio during pregnancy in the Eastern Suburbs

Home visits are particularly well-suited to pregnancy. There's no navigating a clinic in discomfort, no sitting in a waiting room, and treatment can happen in whatever position is most comfortable for you. Seth provides mobile physiotherapy appointments throughout the Eastern Suburbs for pregnant and postpartum women. Call 0410 676 862 or book online.