The use of acupuncture in the management of pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy: a case report

The case study describes the use of acupuncture to treat pelvic girdle pain (PGP) in a 28-yearold pregnant patient. The patient was 22 weeks pregnant and reported pain in the lumbosacral area referring to the right buttock and upper thigh. She described a four-week history of gradually worsening pain. She was struggling to sleep and felt low in mood. Objectively, she had a hyperlordotic posture, limited range of movement due to pain and no neurology. Palpation and pain provocation tests of the sacroiliac joints were positive. She also had a trigger point within the gluteus maximus muscle. Treatment comprised acupuncture, initially to the localised area of pain including the points BL28 and HTJ S2. Subsequent treatment included the trigger point release in gluteus maximus and the addition of the He Sea point BL40. The patient’s pain responded to treatment but her mood remained low and she struggled to sleep. The acupuncture points then used were BL20, REN14, GV20, Yintang and TE3. The patient reported improved sleep and her mood returning to normal levels. The case study supports the previous literature that acupuncture is beneficial in treating PGP and mild emotional complaints during pregnancy.