The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for pregnancy related low back and/ or pelvic girdle pain: An online survey

Authors: Hughes Ciara M, Liddle S D, Sinclair Marlene, McCullough Julie E MJournal: Complementary therapies in clinical practicePublished: May 1, 2018DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.01.015

Q2 JournalSJR: 0.65h-index: 72SCImago

Limited EvidenceCross Sectionaln=191 participants

Pregnancy Discomfort

In Plain Language: pregnancy, explained

Low back and pelvic girdle pain (LBPGP) is a common complaint among pregnant women, which increases throughout pregnancy and women use various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to manage their pain. Using an online survey, CAM treatments used by pregnant women in the UK and their perceptions of these therapies to relieve LBPGP were investigated. 191 women completed the survey and 70% experienced LBPGP lasting more than one week. Over half of women who sought treatment from a GP or physiotherapist were dissatisfied. 25% of participants used CAM during pregnancy, the most popular being aromatherapy (21%), acupuncture (21%), and reflexology (15%). 81% of women used CAM to manage their LBPGP and 85% found it useful for pregnancy symptoms. Women experience high levels of pain during pregnancy with limited treatment options. Research into effective CAM treatments for LBPGP is required to allow women to make informed decisions regarding treatment options.

Key Findings: what this cross-sectional study found about pregnancy

✓Seventy percent of pregnant women surveyed experienced low back and/or pelvic girdle pain lasting more than one week.
✓Over half of women who sought treatment from a GP or physiotherapist were dissatisfied with conventional care.
✓Among pregnant women who used complementary and alternative medicine, 81% used it specifically to manage low back and pelvic girdle pain, with 85% finding it useful for pregnancy symptoms.
✓Aromatherapy, acupuncture, and reflexology were the most popular complementary and alternative medicine treatments used during pregnancy, each used by approximately 15-21% of participants.

What This Means for You

While this survey shows many pregnant women find reflexology helpful for back and pelvic pain, the evidence is based on women's self-reported experiences rather than rigorous testing, so more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.

What This Means for Practitioners

Reflexology appears to be among the more popular complementary therapies pregnant women seek for pain relief, suggesting there is client demand, but practitioners should acknowledge the limited scientific evidence and encourage clients to work with their healthcare providers.

Study Design: how this cross-sectional study was run

Sample Size

191 participants

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Pregnancy: common questions

What does this study say about pregnancy?

What did this study find?

Seventy percent of pregnant women surveyed experienced low back and/or pelvic girdle pain lasting more than one week. Over half of women who sought treatment from a GP or physiotherapist were dissatisfied with conventional care. Among pregnant women who used complementary and alternative medicine, 81% used it specifically to manage low back and pelvic girdle pain, with 85% finding it useful for pregnancy symptoms.

How strong is this evidence?

This is a cross-sectional study and we rate its evidence limited. It covers 191 participants. It was published in Complementary therapies in clinical practice, a Q2 journal. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.