How does pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain impact on gait in pregnant/postpartum women?

Abstract

: [Objective]This systematic review was aimed at determining the effect of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) on gait in pregnant and postnatal women. [Methods]This systematic review was undertaken following the PRISMA guidelines. Six electric databases and pre-existing literature were researched. Each article was evaluated by using Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS). Selected articles were classified into three categories; 1) gait speed, 2) step length, step width, gait cy-cle, and 3) thoracic, pelvic, trunk and hip joints movements and center of pressure (COP) based on the features of gait in pregnant and postpartum women with PGP.[Results]Six articles were included in this systematic review. The six articles found that pregnant women with PGP showed decrease in the gait speed and step length, while step wide was not significant different between pregnant women with PGP and without PGP. In addition, thoracic and pelvic rotation were increased, and anterior and posterior tilts of the pelvis and hip extension movements were limited in pregnant women with PGP. [Conclusion] Pregnant women with PGP have changes in gait patterns. The influence of PGP on gait pattern in postpartum women was not understood.