Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) significantly impacts quality of life of women, and symptoms do not always resolve after childbirth and often recur in subsequent pregnancies. Prospective studies show that PPGP affects 29% to 50% of women during pregnancy and between 10% and 30% following delivery, up to ten years postpartum.
PPGP sufferers are likely to have dysfunctional load transfer through the pelvis, manifesting in diminished endurance for standing, walking, and sitting. Further to the physical impact there is evidence that this condition also has a significant financial impact on working women due to extensive sick leave.
Projects
This programme of work is led by Dr Daniela Aldabe. Dani has conducted several studies on PPGP, examining postural control in pregnant women and its predictive value for PPGP.
Other studies in this area also investigated: “Delphi study about PPGP”, “Quality of musculoskeletal pain information provided to pregnant and postpartum women” and “Women's perception of online information about PPGP”.
The goal of Dani's work is to provide more evidence for improving PPGP management and health delivery.
Women's perspective on pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain internet information
This study aimed to get pregnant and postpartum women perspectives on on-line information about pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain.
We recruited pregnant and postpartum women presenting with pelvic girdle pain.
Research students
Daniela is seeking motivated PhD and Masters students who have an interest in Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (focus on health delivery, management and foundational research).
Please consult the University of Otago scholarships webpage to check eligibility for international and domestic student scholarships
Women's Perspective on Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain Self-Management Using Internet Information
Student Name: Tui Amber Wood (summer project)
Supervisors: Dr Hemakumar Devan, Dr Daniela Aldabe
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain information on the internet: Evaluation of accuracy, readability and credibility
Student Name: Jana Becker (honours project)
Supervisors: Dr Hemakumar Devan, Dr Annelie Gutke and Dr Daniela Aldabe
Publications and presentations
Goossens, N., Massé-Alarie, H., Aldabe, D., Verbrugghe, J., & Janssens, L. (2022). Changes in static balance during pregnancy and postpartum: a systematic review. Gait & Posture.
Aldabe, D.; Lawrenson P.; Sullivan, J.; Hyland, G.; Bussey, M.; Hammer, N.; Bryant, K. and Woodley, S. (2021). Management of women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: an international Delphi study. Physiotherapy, v. 15, 66 – 84.
Aldabe, D.; Milosavljevic, S.; Bussey, M.D. (2020). A multivariate model for predicting PPGP considering postural adjustment parameters. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, v. 48, n. 9, p.1-6.
Bussey, M., Aldabe,D. Shemmell, J. Jowett, T. (2020). Anticipatory postural control differs between low back pain and pelvic girdle pain patients in the absence of visual feedback. Human Movement Science, v 69, 102529.
Aldabe, D.; Hammer, N.; Flack, N.; Woodley, S. (2019). A systematic review of the morphology and function of the sacrotuberous ligament. Clinical Anatomy, v 33, p.396 – 407.
Bussey, M., Aldabe, D.; Ribeiro, D.; Madill, S.; Woodley, S.; Hammer, N. (2019). Is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Associated With Development of Transient Low Back Pain During Prolonged Standing? A Protocol. Clinical Medicine Insights – Women's Health, v 12, p.1 – 7.
Aldabe, D.; Milosavljevic, S.; Bussey, M.D. (2012). Is pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain related to altered kinematic, kinetic and motor control of the pelvis? European Spine Journal, v. 21, n. 9, p.1777-1787.
Aldabe, D.; Ribeiro, D.C.; Milosavljevic, S.; Bussey, M.D. (2012) Pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain and its relationship with relaxin levels during pregnancy: a systematic review. European Spine Journal, v. 21, n. 9, p.1769-1776.
Contact
Daniela Aldabe, phone number: +64 3 479 5426 and e-mail: daniela.aldabe@otago.ac.nz