Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Pelvic girdle pain is pain in the joints of the pelvis — at the back over the sacroiliac joints, at the front over the pubic bone, or both — and it is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems in pregnancy. At Modern Physio we focus on understanding the root-cause of your problem & personalizing your treatment for lasting results.
Understanding Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Pelvic girdle pain is pain in the joints of the pelvis — at the back over the sacroiliac joints, at the front over the pubic bone, or both — and it is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems in pregnancy. It typically hurts most with movements where the legs work asymmetrically: turning in bed, climbing stairs, getting out of a car, standing on one leg to dress. It is not dangerous to you or your baby, and it is not something you simply have to endure until delivery. Physiotherapy focuses on movement strategies, load management and support so you can keep functioning through pregnancy.
Common Symptoms
- Pain over the back of the pelvis, the pubic bone, or both
- Pain radiating into the groin, buttock or the back of the thigh
- Difficulty turning over in bed
- Pain climbing stairs or standing on one leg
- Pain getting in and out of a car
- A clicking or grinding sensation in the pelvis
- Pain that worsens through the day or with sustained walking
- Difficulty with tasks that separate the legs
How Common Is It?
Pelvic girdle pain is among the most frequently reported musculoskeletal complaints in pregnancy and can begin at any stage, though it is more common as pregnancy progresses. For most women symptoms settle after delivery; for a minority they persist and warrant continued treatment.
Causes & Risk Factors
- Hormonal changes in pregnancy increasing ligament laxity
- The changing position and weight of the growing baby
- Asymmetric loading patterns through the pelvis
- Reduced control from the deep abdominal, gluteal and pelvic floor muscles
- A previous episode in an earlier pregnancy, which increases the chance of recurrence
- Previous pelvic injury
Our Diagnosis Process
- History of where the pain is, when it began, and which specific movements provoke it
- Screening for the obstetric red flags below before anything else
- Assessment of pelvic joint movement and the muscles controlling them
- Watching the movements that hurt — stairs, sit-to-stand, single-leg stance — to find where control is lost
- Testing whether external support changes your symptoms, which guides whether a belt will help
Our Treatment Approach
- Movement strategy: practical, specific ways to turn in bed, climb stairs and get out of a car with less pain
- Targeted strengthening of the gluteal, deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles that control the pelvis
- A pelvic support belt where assessment shows it helps — fitted and trialled, not handed over on assumption
- Manual therapy adapted for pregnancy, in safe positions
- Activity pacing so the day does not end with an unmanageable flare
- Preparation for labour positions and for the early postnatal weeks
Recovery & Prevention Tips
- Keep your knees together when turning in bed and when getting in and out of a car
- Take stairs one at a time, leading with the less painful leg
- Sit down to dress rather than standing on one leg
- Avoid prolonged standing and heavy shopping bags where you can
- Do the strengthening consistently — support helps symptoms, muscle control changes the problem
Products That Can Help
Supports and equipment we fit at the clinic that patients with this condition commonly use alongside treatment — never instead of it.
Evidence & Sources
Pelvic pain in pregnancy is common, is not harmful to the baby, and physiotherapy advice on movement and support is recommended.
NHS — Pelvic pain in pregnancyStaying active during pregnancy is recommended, with activity adapted rather than stopped.
NHS — Exercise in pregnancyFrequently Asked Questions
Is pelvic girdle pain harmful to my baby?
No. It is a musculoskeletal problem affecting you, not the pregnancy itself. It can be painful and genuinely limiting, which is reason enough to treat it, but it does not harm the baby.
Should I stop walking and rest?
Complete rest usually makes it worse by reducing the muscle control that stabilises the pelvis. The aim is to modify how you move and how much you do, not to stop moving.
Will it go away after delivery?
For most women it improves substantially in the weeks after birth. For some it persists, and that is worth treating rather than waiting out — persistent postnatal pelvic pain responds well to targeted rehabilitation.
Is a support belt worth buying?
For some women it makes a real difference; for others it does nothing. That is why it is trialled during assessment before being recommended, rather than bought on spec.
How is this different from symphysis pubis dysfunction?
Pelvic girdle pain is the umbrella term for pain in the pelvic joints. Symphysis pubis dysfunction refers specifically to pain at the pubic joint at the front. They overlap heavily and are assessed the same way.
Medically Reviewed
This content was reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Surabhi Bansal, BPT, MPT (Ortho) with 14+ years of clinical experience.
At Modern Physio, all medical content undergoes a thorough review process to ensure accuracy and alignment with current physiotherapy standards. Our content is created to educate and should not replace professional medical advice. Learn more about our review process.
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Our expert physiotherapists can help you recover from pelvic girdle pain (pgp) with personalized treatment plans.
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