Table 1.

Characteristics of women with PGP or PGP plus LBP and women with no PGP before inclusion in RCT in pregnancy

Variable	PGP or PGP + LBP (n = 37)	No PGP (n = 290)	p-value
Treatment in RCT
Standard treatment	11 (29.7 %)	77 (26.6 %)
Standard treatment + Acupuncture	14 (37.8 %)	129 (44.5 %)
Standard treatment + Specific stabilising exercises	4 (10.8 %)	56 (19.3 %)
Standard treatment + Craniosacral therapy	8 (21.6 %)	28 (9.7 %)	0.11
Age, years	30.0 (23.0; 39.0)	31.0 (20.0; 43.0)	0.40
	n = 37	n = 289
BMI before pregnancy	22.6 (19.7; 34.2)	23.2 (18.0; 38.4)	0.99
	n = 23	n = 115
Age at menarche, years	13.0 (10.0; 15.0)	13.0 (9.0; 16.0)	0.63
	n = 32	n = 248
Previous LBP	24 (64.9 %)	127 (44.7 %)	0.032
Women on sick-leave due to PGP	13 (35.1 %)	143 (50.0 %)	0.13
Severity of PGP
No complaints, PGP do not affect ability to work	1 (2.7 %)	5 (1.8 %)
Moderate complaints, PGP only affect ability to work sporadically	5 (13.5 %)	67 (23.8 %)
Not insignificant, cannot do some parts of my work	15 (40.5 %)	90 (32.0 %)
Severe, can almost not work	12 (32.4 %)	79 (28.1 %)
Severe, cannot work at all	4 (10.8 %)	40 (14.2 %)	0.80
Tests for assessment of PGP before inclusion in the RCT
Pain provocation tests
P4 test	37 (100.0 %)	283 (97.6 %)	0.86
Symphysis pressure test	22 (59.5 %)	121 (42.2 %)	0.070
Patrick Faber test	27 (73.0 %)	159 (54.8 %)	0.051
Modified Trendelenburg test	22 (59.5 %)	116 (40.0 %)	0.039
Number of bilateral positive pain provocation tests
0	0 (0.0 %)	3 (1.0 %)
1	6 (16.2 %)	58 (20.0 %)
2	6 (16.2 %)	107 (36.9 %)
3	10 (27.0 %)	81 (27.9 %)
4	15 (40.5 %)	41 (14.1 %)	0.0013
Functional test
ASLR test (sum of scores)	3.00 (0.00; 8.00)	3.00 (0.00; 10.00)	0.35
	n = 23	n = 116
Subgroups of pelvic girdle pain
Solely symphysiolysis	0 (0.0 %)	5 (1.7 %)	1.00
One sided sacroiliac pain	3 (8.1 %)	37 (12.8 %)	0.61
One sided sacroiliac pain + symphyseal pain	6 (16.2 %)	39 (13.4 %)	0.80
Double sided sacroiliac pain	12 (32.4 %)	118 (40.7 %)	0.43
Pelvic girdle syndrome	16 (43.2 %)	91 (31.4 %)	0.21
Pain related to motion
In the morning, VAS	31.0 (8.0; 92.0)	26.5 (0.0; 96.0	0.089
In the evening, VAS	62.0 (5.0; 93.0)	62.8 (6.0; 100.0)	0.30
	n = 37	n = 288
Unpleasantness of PGP, VAS	63.0 (20.0; 100.0)	73.0 (0.0; 100.0)	0.068
	n = 30	n = 200
DRI	50.0 (23.0; 100.0)	59.0 (11.0; 100.0)	0.11
	n = 37	n = 279
EQ-VAS	40.0 (25.0; 100.0)	50.0 (20.0; 99.0)	0.37
	n = 23	n = 113
EQ-5D score	0.620 (-0.016; 0.760)	0.620 (-0.074; 0.796)	0.23
	n = 23	n = 112
Education level
Primary school	0 (0.0 %)	5 (2.0 %)
Secondary school	11 (33.3 %)	64 (25.3 %)
College	5 (15.2 %)	21 (8.3 %)
University degree	17 (51.5 %)	163 (64.4 %)	0.37
No or rare ability to take rest breaks at work	4 (13.8 %)	68 (29.8 %)	0.18
Physical activity ≥30 minutes during leisure before pregnancy, days/week
0	3 (9.1 %)	8 (3.2 %)
1	1 (3.0 %)	20 (7.9 %)
2	3 (9.1 %)	43 (17.1 %)
3	7 (21.2 %)	57 (22.6 %)
4	5 (15.2 %)	31 (12.3 %)
5	3 (9.1 %)	37 (14.7 %)
6	2 (6.1 %)	13 (5.2 %)
7	9 (27.3 %)	43 (17.1 %)	0.35

For comparison between groups Fisher’s Exact test was used for ichotomous variables and the Mantel-Haenszel Chi Square Exact test was used for ordered categorical variables and the Mantel-Haenszel Chi Square test was used for ordered categorical variables and Chi Square Exact test was used for non-ordered categorical variables and Chi Square test was used for non-ordered categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U-test was used for continuous variables

PGP pelvic girdle pain, LBP Low back pain, RCT Randomized controlled trial, BMI Body mass index, P4-test Posterior pelvic pain provocation test, ASLR-test Active straight leg test, VAS visual analoge scale. DRI Disability Rating Index; EQ-5D European Quality of Life measure – five dimensions; EQ-VAS European Quality of Life measure – visual analog scale. For categorical variables n (%) is presented. For continuous variables Mean (SD) / Median (Min; Max) / n = is presented