Postpartum Pelvic Girdle PainNCT07920406
Hypopressive-Core Stabilization With and Without Whole-Body Vibration in Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain
A study testing Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration and hypopressive and core stabilization in people with Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain, run by University of Management and Technology Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Its prevalence during pregnancy ranges between 20% and 70%, and about 10% of women still have symptoms beyond three months after delivery (persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 22 to 40 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain
- What is being tested?
- Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration and hypopressive and core stabilization
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 28 Oct 2026to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 22 to 40 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Postpartum women aged 22 to 40 years. Pain located between the posterior iliac crest and the gluteal fold, with or without spread to the back of the thigh and/or the pubic symphysis.
- Between 6 weeks and 12 months after delivery (puerperium recovery phase). Pain that gets worse with weight bearing, climbing stairs, turning in bed, walking, or parting the legs.
- Delivered vaginally. Pain score of 3 to 6 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). At least 3 of 5 standard clinical tests positive (Posterior Pelvic Pain Provocation, Active Straight Leg Raise, FABER, Gaenslen's, and pelvic compression/distraction), confirming clinically significant pelvic girdle dysfunction.
- Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ) score of 28/75 or higher, indicating at least moderate disability.
- Body mass index between 18 and 35.4 kg/m².
Who cannot join
- Nerve-related pain that can mimic pelvic girdle pain (for example, lumbar disc herniation or radiculopathy).
- History of pelvic fracture or severe pelvic trauma, or sciatica due to osteoporosis or other bone disease.
- Low back pain or pelvic pain that was already present before the index pregnancy.
- Current pregnancy. Any systemic, metabolic, neurological, or psychiatric condition that would interfere with participation, or active malignancy.
- Acute deep vein thrombosis, recent pelvic or abdominal surgery, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, or implanted electronic devices.
- Inflammatory joint disease such as ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Lumbar spine pathology such as disc herniation, nerve root compression, or spondylolisthesis
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
University of Management & Technology
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
About this study
Official title: Effects of Hypopressive-Core Stabilization With and Without Whole-Body Vibration on Pain, Mobility and Disability in Patients With Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Its prevalence during pregnancy ranges between 20% and 70%, and about 10% of women still have symptoms beyond three months after delivery (persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain). It limits walking, stair-climbing, prolonged standing, lifting and turning in bed, just when the demands of caring for a newborn are highest. Hypopressive exercise combines diaphragmatic apnea with a costal expansion manoeuvre to co-activate the transversus abdominis and pelvic floor muscles, core stabilization restores lumbopelvic neuromuscular control, and whole-body vibration (WBV) enhances recruitment of trunk and pelvic stabilizers. However, the combination of these approaches has not yet been investigated in postpartum pelvic girdle pain. This randomized clinical trial will compare hypopressive-core stabilization with WBV (Group A) against hypopressive-core stabilization alone (Group B) on pain, mobility and disability. Thirty postpartum women (15 per group) will be recruited by convenient sampling from physiotherapy centers in Lahore and randomly allocated using sealed opaque envelopes. Both groups will attend 3 supervised sessions per week for a total of 8 weeks (24 sessions), each preceded by a moist hot pack for 15 minutes. Each session combines progressive hypopressive postures with core stabilization exercises (squats, bridge and push-up positions); in Group A the core exercises are performed on a vibrating platform at 25 Hz and 2 mm amplitude. Pain (NPRS), pelvic girdle disability (PGQ) and functional mobility (Timed Up and Go) will be measured by a blinded assessor at baseline, end of week 4 and end of week 8. The whole study will be completed within 8 months after synopsis approval. The findings can assist physiotherapists in implementing evidence-based treatment strategies and contribute to better maternal health outcomes for postpartum women.
- Conditions
- Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain
- Being tested
- Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration, hypopressive and core stabilization
- Keywords
- Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain, Pain, Disability, Hypopressive-Core Stabilization, Mobility, Whole-Body Vibration
- Medical subject headings
- Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibrationOther
Group A (HCS + WBV): Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration. The hypopressive part uses progressive postures (lying, sitting, kneeling, quadruped, and standing) with diaphragmatic breathing and breath-holds (apnea) that build from 15 to 30 seconds, in 30-minute sessions. The core part uses squats, bridge, and push-up positions on a vibrating platform at 25 Hz and 2 mm amplitude, held for 30 seconds in weeks 1-4 and 60 seconds in weeks 5-8, with two repetitions and 30 seconds of rest between them. Each session includes a 5-minute warm-up and cool-down.
hypopressive and core stabilizationOther
Group B (HCS only): The same hypopressive and core stabilization programme, with identical exercises, repetitions, and progression, but performed without any vibration
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration | Experimental | Group A (HCS + WBV): Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration. The hypopressive part uses progressive postures (lying, sitting, kneeling, quadruped, and standing) with diaphragmatic breathing and breath-holds (apnea) that build from 15 to 30 seconds, in 30-minute sessions. The core part uses squats, bridge, and push-up positions on a vibrating platform at 25 Hz and 2 mm amplitude, held for 30 seconds in weeks 1-4 and 60 seconds in weeks 5-8, with two repetitions and 30 seconds of rest between them. Each session includes a 5-minute warm-up and cool-down Receives: Other: Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration |
| hypopressive and core stabilization | Active comparator | Group B (HCS only): The same hypopressive and core stabilization programme, with identical exercises, repetitions, and progression, but performed without any vibration Receives: Other: hypopressive and core stabilization |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
A simple 11-point scale where participants rate their current pain from 0 to 10. 0 means no pain; 1-3 is mild pain (nagging, annoying, interfering little with daily activities); 4-6 is moderate pain (interferes significantly with daily activities); and 7-10 is severe pain (disabling, unable to perform daily activities
Measured: baseline after 8 week
Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ)
The first condition-specific questionnaire for women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. It has 25 items scored from 0 to 3: 20 on activity limitations and 5 on symptoms, for a maximum of 75. The total is converted to a percentage, where 0% means no disability and 100% means severe disability. It has high reliability (ICC 0.93 for activity, 0.91 for symptoms) and is recommended as a primary outcome measure in this population
Measured: baseline after 8 week
Timed Up and Go (TUG) test
The participant stands up from a standard armchair (about 46 cm high) on the command "go," walks 3 metres at a brisk pace, turns, walks back, and sits down. The time is recorded in seconds. The test is a brief measure of functional mobility. Use the same standardized procedure at each assessment and interpret results alongside the participant's symptoms and other outcome measures.
Measured: baseline after 8 week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Nov 2026
- Study start28 Oct 2026
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Postpartum Pelvic Girdle PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Rabia Majeed, University of Management and Technology Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07920406
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RE-178-2026
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Hypopressive-Core Stabilization With and Without Whole-Body Vibration on Pain, Mobility and Disability in Patients With Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07920406
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RE-178-2026
- Conditions
- Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain
- Keywords
- Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain, Pain, Disability, Hypopressive-Core Stabilization, Mobility, Whole-Body Vibration
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Management and Technology LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 28 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Nov 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Its prevalence during pregnancy ranges between 20% and 70%, and about 10% of women still have symptoms beyond three months after delivery (persistent postpartum pelvic girdle pain). It limits walking, stair-climbing, prolonged standing, lifting and turning in bed, just when the demands of caring for a newborn are highest. Hypopressive exercise combines diaphragmatic apnea with a costal expansion manoeuvre to co-activate the transversus abdominis and pelvic floor muscles, core stabilization restores lumbopelvic neuromuscular control, and whole-body vibration (WBV) enhances recruitment of trunk and pelvic stabilizers. However, the combination of these approaches has not yet been investigated in postpartum pelvic girdle pain. This randomized clinical trial will compare hypopressive-core stabilization with WBV (Group A) against hypopressive-core stabilization alone (Group B) on pain, mobility and disability. Thirty postpartum women (15 per group) will be recruited by convenient sampling from physiotherapy centers in Lahore and randomly allocated using sealed opaque envelopes. Both groups will attend 3 supervised sessions per week for a total of 8 weeks (24 sessions), each preceded by a moist hot pack for 15 minutes. Each session combines progressive hypopressive postures with core stabilization exercises (squats, bridge and push-up positions); in Group A the core exercises are performed on a vibrating platform at 25 Hz and 2 mm amplitude. Pain (NPRS), pelvic girdle disability (PGQ) and functional mobility (Timed Up and Go) will be measured by a blinded assessor at baseline, end of week 4 and end of week 8. The whole study will be completed within 8 months after synopsis approval. The findings can assist physiotherapists in implementing evidence-based treatment strategies and contribute to better maternal health outcomes for postpartum women.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration | Experimental | Other: Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibrationGroup A (HCS + WBV): Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration. The hypopressive part uses progressive postures (lying, sitting, kneeling, quadruped, and standing) with diaphragmatic breathing and breath-holds (apnea) that build from 15 to 30 seconds, in 30-minute sessions. The core part uses squats, bridge, and push-up positions on a vibrating platform at 25 Hz and 2 mm amplitude, held for 30 seconds in weeks 1-4 and 60 seconds in weeks 5-8, with two repetitions and 30 seconds of rest between them. Each session includes a 5-minute warm-up and cool-down |
| hypopressive and core stabilization | Active comparator | Other: hypopressive and core stabilizationGroup B (HCS only): The same hypopressive and core stabilization programme, with identical exercises, repetitions, and progression, but performed without any vibration |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 22 to 40 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Postpartum women aged 22 to 40 years. Pain located between the posterior iliac crest and the gluteal fold, with or without spread to the back of the thigh and/or the pubic symphysis.
- Between 6 weeks and 12 months after delivery (puerperium recovery phase). Pain that gets worse with weight bearing, climbing stairs, turning in bed, walking, or parting the legs.
- Delivered vaginally. Pain score of 3 to 6 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). At least 3 of 5 standard clinical tests positive (Posterior Pelvic Pain Provocation, Active Straight Leg Raise, FABER, Gaenslen's, and pelvic compression/distraction), confirming clinically significant pelvic girdle dysfunction.
- Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ) score of 28/75 or higher, indicating at least moderate disability.
- Body mass index between 18 and 35.4 kg/m².
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Nerve-related pain that can mimic pelvic girdle pain (for example, lumbar disc herniation or radiculopathy).
- History of pelvic fracture or severe pelvic trauma, or sciatica due to osteoporosis or other bone disease.
- Low back pain or pelvic pain that was already present before the index pregnancy.
- Current pregnancy. Any systemic, metabolic, neurological, or psychiatric condition that would interfere with participation, or active malignancy.
- Acute deep vein thrombosis, recent pelvic or abdominal surgery, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, or implanted electronic devices.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibrationGroup A (HCS + WBV): Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration. The hypopressive part uses progressive postures (lying, sitting, kneeling, quadruped, and standing) with diaphragmatic breathing and breath-holds (apnea) that build from 15 to 30 seconds, in 30-minute sessions. The core part uses squats, bridge, and push-up positions on a vibrating platform at 25 Hz and 2 mm amplitude, held for 30 seconds in weeks 1-4 and 60 seconds in weeks 5-8, with two repetitions and 30 seconds of rest between them. Each session includes a 5-minute warm-up and cool-down. | Other | Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration |
| hypopressive and core stabilizationGroup B (HCS only): The same hypopressive and core stabilization programme, with identical exercises, repetitions, and progression, but performed without any vibration | Other | hypopressive and core stabilization |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: baseline after 8 week
A simple 11-point scale where participants rate their current pain from 0 to 10. 0 means no pain; 1-3 is mild pain (nagging, annoying, interfering little with daily activities); 4-6 is moderate pain (interferes significantly with daily activities); and 7-10 is severe pain (disabling, unable to perform daily activities
Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ)
Time frame: baseline after 8 week
The first condition-specific questionnaire for women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. It has 25 items scored from 0 to 3: 20 on activity limitations and 5 on symptoms, for a maximum of 75. The total is converted to a percentage, where 0% means no disability and 100% means severe disability. It has high reliability (ICC 0.93 for activity, 0.91 for symptoms) and is recommended as a primary outcome measure in this population
Timed Up and Go (TUG) test
Time frame: baseline after 8 week
The participant stands up from a standard armchair (about 46 cm high) on the command "go," walks 3 metres at a brisk pace, turns, walks back, and sits down. The time is recorded in seconds. The test is a brief measure of functional mobility. Use the same standardized procedure at each assessment and interpret results alongside the participant's symptoms and other outcome measures.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Nov 2026.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Hypopressive-core stabilization exercises combined with whole-body vibration and hypopressive and core stabilization in people with Postpartum Pelvic Girdle Pain, run by University of Management and Technology Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) (time frame: baseline after 8 week). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Nov 2026.