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Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain

Friday, 30th January 2026

Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is one of the most common causes of pain and discomfort during pregnancy. By the end of pregnancy up to 60-70% of women will have experienced some level of PGP pain. Depending on the intensity of symptoms, it can lead to women feeling helpless and isolated due to the limitations it can place on day-to-day activity. Surprisingly, only approximately 25% of women get referred for treatment therefore, the aim of this blog is to increase awareness for PGP and educate regarding how it can be managed.

What is it?

Pregnancy related PGP is defined as pain and/or discomfort generally at the back of the pelvis however it can also be felt at the front of the pelvis, lower back, hips and thighs. The intensity of symptoms can range from mild to severe and are commonly aggravated with standing/walking for long periods, using stairs, getting in and out of the car, activities that involve standing on one leg and rolling in bed. The reason why these activities tend to cause pain and discomfort is because they tend to put uneven load on either side of the pelvis. It is also possible for the symptoms to continue for a small number of women in the postpartum period.

Why does it happen?

It is commonly thought that these symptoms are particularly associated with the increase in relaxin hormone during pregnancy however this hormone actually peaks at 12 weeks of pregnancy whereas the rate of PGP is highest at the end of pregnancy. There has not been one single factor that is linked specifically to the cause of pregnancy related PGP and instead appears to be multifactorial.

One of the contributors appears to be the increase in a type of oestrogen during pregnancy that increases the production of a specific collagen type that is more elastic. This increases the mobility of the pelvis in preparation for birth. Another contributor is the increase in load on your pelvis as your baby increases in size.

How can it be managed?

While there can be the expectation that being pregnant particularly in the later stages is associated with pain and discomfort, this does not have to be the case. There are a number of strategies that can be utilised to improve PGP symptoms through physiotherapy such as manual therapy, pregnancy support belts or leggings, prescription of pelvic stability exercises, taping and education. Simple tips like keeping both legs together when getting in and out of the car and rolling in bed can be a game changer in making these day to day activities more comfortable!

Your physiotherapist can help with deciding what is going to be the best form of management for you in conjunction with the input of your GP, obstetrician and/or midwife, as what might work for someone may not work for the next person. Getting on top of these symptoms sooner rather than later is important to allow you to enjoy your pregnancy and maintain quality of life.

It is also important to get these types of symptoms checked to rule out any other causes to your pain that might not fit the specific PGP behaviour. It is important to identify this quickly to ensure the correct management is undertaken.

If you are pregnant and these symptoms are sounding familiar give PEAK a call and we can direct you to the appropriate coaches to help you along your pregnancy journey.

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