Acupuncture and Exercise Reduce Pelvic Pain for Pregnant Women
Pelvic-girdle pain is a common complaint among pregnant women. Investigators in Gothenburg, Sweden, compared the effectiveness of various treatments. They studied 386 pregnant women from 27 Swedish maternity care centers for a period of 8 weeks, including 6 weeks of treatment. Participants received standard treatment consisting of education plus a pelvic belt and exercises; standard treatment plus acupuncture; or standard treatment plus stability exercises. Members of the acupuncture group experienced the most reduction in pain, followed by members of the stability exercise group. Acupuncture successfully controlled the pain.
Researchers suggest that additional studies be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of therapies, such as acupuncture plus stability exercises. The study was published online, March 18, in the British Medical Journal (2005; 10:1136/bmj.38397.507014.E0).
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
