In January 2019 researchers from Egypt published the results of their study to assess the effect of exercise, with or without pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic girdle pain following childbirth. A total of 40 post-partum women, aged 25-35 years, and with a BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m2 were included in the study. The women were divided into two groups; one group received local stabilizing exercises, and the other local stabilizing exercises and pelvic floor muscle training. Pain, functional disability, range of body movement and pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed before and after the study. Results showed that both groups experienced a significant decrease in pain and functional disability and a significant increase in range of body movement and pelvic floor muscle strength. However, those receiving the pelvic floor muscle training in addition to the local stabilizing exercises experienced a significantly better decrease in pain and functional disability and increase in pelvic floor muscle strength when compared to those who only received local stabilizing exercises.
El Deeb AM et al. Effect of segmental stabilizing exercises augmented by pelvic floor muscles training on women with postpartum pelvic girdle pain: A randomized controlled trial. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2019 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]