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Gothenburg (pte034/18.03.2005/14:00) - Acupuncture is very effective at relieving pelvic pain during pregnancy, according to a new Swedish study. Pelvic girdle pain is common among pregnant women with one in three affected suffering severe pain. As the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk reports, researchers found that acupuncture was better at easing the pain than standard and specialised exercising. The team of researchers from Gothenburg's Institute for the Health of Women and Children said that the medical profession should be more open to using acupuncture.
"The study shows that methods other than structured physiotherapy may be effective in treating pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy and that acupuncture represents an effective alternative," said Helen Elden, the report's co-author, who is a midwife at the institute. "A combination of several methods is probably even better," she added.
The Swedish team studied the effect of three six-week treatment programmes on 386 pregnant women suffering from pelvic girdle pain, which is thought to be caused by hormones affecting ligaments and muscles. The scientists gave one group a standard home exercise routine, a second received the exercise routine and acupuncture, while the third group had a specialised exercise regime aimed at improving mobility and strength. Pain levels were recorded every morning and evening and assessments were done by an independent examiner. The women using acupuncture experienced the best results, followed by those who underwent the specialised exercise programme.
According to Daniel Maxwell, a member of the British Acupuncture Council, the regulatory body for acupuncturists, the benefits of acupuncture for pregnant women are well known. "Many pregnant women turn to acupuncture to relieve pain, especially pelvic pain. It is good because it does not involve any drugs, which women have to be careful about taking during pregnancy," he said. "However, the medical profession needs to be more consistent in recommending acupuncture as a treatment. Some GPs and midwives do not refer people on for acupuncture, but some don't. It really does vary from area to area," he added.
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