The efficacy of whole-body vibration training in alleviating postpartum pelvic girdle pain: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAlthough whole-body vibration (WBV) training has been investigated for its effects on low back pain, pelvic floor muscles, and lower limbs, evidence from randomized controlled trials evaluating its efficacy in alleviating postpartum pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) remains lacking.ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of WBV training in alleviating pain, improving functional status, and enhancing quality of life in women with PPGP.MethodsIn the double-blind randomized controlled trial, 52 women with PPGP were randomly assigned to either core stability training combined with WBV training (15-20 Hz) or core stability training (26 women in each group). Both groups performed 40-min training, 3 times per week, for 4 weeks. The primary outcome measures were the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire (PGQ). Secondary outcomes included the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MW), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).Results50 subjects completed the 4-week intervention. Both groups showed significant improvement in all outcome indicators compared with those before the intervention. Intergroup comparison showed that the intervention group had a shorter TUG time and a faster 10MW speed (<i>p</i> < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in VAS (<i>p</i> = 0.07) and PGQ (<i>p</i> = 0.28) scores between the two groups. And after the pre- and post-intervention, a higher improvement in TUG in the intervention group than in the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and a higher increase in 10MW velocity than in the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). 4-week post-intervention follow-up, 47 participants completed the PGQ assessment, with lower scores in the intervention group, indicating sustained pelvic-specific improvements.ConclusionResearch suggests that core stability training combined with WBV training is more beneficial than core stabilization training alone in improving functional disability and quality of life in women with postpartum pelvic girdle pain.