Ask to take part

Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.

Contact Information:

Mr Bradley Halliday
+44 (0)1752 588873
emapp@plymouth.ac.uk


Prof Jenny Freeman
+44 (0)1752 588835
jenny.freeman@plymouth.ac.uk


More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.

Study Location:

Find another location


Questions to ask
Skip to Main Content
English | Cymraeg
Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Evaluating the use of support shorts to manage chronic pelvic girdle pain in women following pregnancy
Back

Evaluating the use of support shorts to manage chronic pelvic girdle pain in women following pregnancy

Not Recruiting

Open to: Female

Age: Adult

Plymouth

Medical Conditions

Chronic pelvic girdle pain following pregnancy

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


Pelvic girdle pain is common during pregnancy. This pain will often reduce following childbirth, but almost 20% of women continue to suffer significant pain for at least 3 months afterwards. When pain is severe it will affect everyday activities and quality of life. The usual treatment typically involves physiotherapy (advice and exercise) and the provision of an “off the shelf” rigid pelvic support belt. Women often find these uncomfortable and difficult to use. A customised pelvic orthotic (referred to as pelvic support shorts) is an alternative that on initial testing has shown promising results in women with chronic pelvic girdle pain. This study aims to obtain the data and experience necessary to inform a future larger trial. The researchers will also gather women's views about the support shorts and the trial. It is vital to understand what treatments are beneficial to this group of women and this is the main driver for this trial.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

04 Oct 2021 04 Aug 2022

Publications

2025 Results article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40281627/ (added 28/04/2025)

Participants are randomly allocated to receive either usual care (advice and exercise) or usual care and customised pelvic support shorts. All participants will receive two web-based sessions with a physiotherapist who will provide this intervention. All will complete web-based questionnaires (pain, function, quality of life, continence, depression) at the start of the study and after 3 and 6 months. Pain and medication usage are recorded fortnightly. Fifteen women and five clinicians will be interviewed at the end of the trial to explore their experiences of wearing/providing the support shorts and participating in the trial.


Women aged 18 years and over experiencing pelvic girdle pain that has been present for longer than 3 months but less than 2 years causing walking or stair climbing to be bothersome

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. Known allergy to lycra 2. Age <18 years3. Currently pregnant4. PGP for >2 years post partum 5. Self reported history of pathologies causative of lumbopelvic pain (e.g. Infection, trauma, cancer)6. Participating in concurrent interventional research which may over-burden the patient or confound data collection 7. There are no special arrangements made for participants who are unable to adequately understand verbal and/or written English. There is no intention to exclude patients, therefore, if they have regular access to a friend or family member who is able to translate for them they would be able to participate8. Participants who lack capacity to provide informed consent


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • Derriford Hospital
    Derriford Rd
    Plymouth
    PL6 8DH

Participants will receive evidence-based advice from a chartered physiotherapist along with an exercise programme with or without the pelvic support shorts. It is not yet known if the support shorts are beneficial in managing persistent pelvic girdle pain. It is possible that involvement in the study will not lead to any improvement in pelvic girdle pain. Participants will need to undertake some physical tests to ensure their pain is caused by the structures around the pelvic girdle. These tests, which are undertaken routinely within NHS practice, may temporarily worsen pelvic pain (for up to 24 hours). The researchers will undertake the tests in an order designed to progressively test the pelvic girdle. This means that they will stop testing as soon as they reach the set level for entry into the study. The physiotherapy advice and exercise reflects standard NHS care for women experiencing pelvic girdle pain. Therefore this part of the study does not pose any greater risk. The support shorts contain Lycra so women with a known allergy to Lycra will not be eligible to participate in the study. There is a possibility that the shorts will worsen their pain. Previous studies have shown that this is not expected. Participants' comfort will be carefully assessed by a physiotherapist at the two intervention appointments. If they feel that the support shorts are worsening their symptoms they will be advised to stop wearing them. Participants will also be provided with the contact name and telephone number of the NHS physiotherapist so that they can report any issues that may arise, and so that they are supported with regard to the shorts wear.

Mr Bradley Halliday
+44 (0)1752 588873
emapp@plymouth.ac.uk


Prof Jenny Freeman
+44 (0)1752 588835
jenny.freeman@plymouth.ac.uk



More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.


The study is sponsored by Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust and funded by NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF); Grant Codes: NIHR201930.



We'd like your feedback

Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.


Is this study information helpful?

What will you do next?
Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN67232113

Or CPMS 49691

Last updated 28 April 2025

This page is to help you find out about a research study and if you may be able to take part

You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.   

Back to the top