Effectiveness of manual therapy, motor control exercise and general exercise for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis

This project describes a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating conservative interventions for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) during pregnancy and the postpartum period. PGP is a common condition associated with pain, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life, with a substantial proportion of women experiencing persistent or recurrent symptoms. The review focuses on three widely used interventions: manual therapy, motor control exercise, and general exercise. These approaches differ in theoretical rationale and clinical application, yet current guidelines and previous reviews provide limited clarity regarding their relative effectiveness and clinical relevance. The primary aim is to assess the effects of manual therapy, motor control exercise, and general exercise, delivered alone or in combination, on pain intensity, disability, and pelvic floor muscle function in women with pregnancy-related PGP. Outcomes are stratified by pregnancy and postpartum status where possible. Randomised controlled trials are synthesised using meta-analysis when appropriate, with narrative synthesis applied when pooling is not feasible. The expected outcome is a transparent and rigorous synthesis of the available evidence, including an assessment of clinical relevance and certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. The findings aim to inform clinical practice and highlight priorities for future research in the management of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain.