What Is Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy?
Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is the clinical term for pregnancy-related pelvic pain that affects the sacroiliac joints, the pubic symphysis, or all three simultaneously. It is distinct from general low back pain, though the two frequently co-occur. The driving mechanism is the hormonal and structural adaptation of pregnancy. Relaxin, the hormone that loosens ligamentous support in preparation for delivery, does not loosen all pelvic ligaments symmetrically. When the SI joints or pubic symphysis carry asymmetrical laxity, the pelvis cannot maintain its normal structural alignment under the increasing load of the growing baby. The result is the pain, instability, and movement limitation that defines PGP.
A systematic review in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders found that pelvic girdle pain affects between 45% and 54% of pregnant women, making it one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints of pregnancy, and that manual therapy including chiropractic care is among the evidence-supported approaches for management. The key word is management. The structural changes of pregnancy are real and progressive, and the goal of care is to reduce asymmetry and maintain the best mechanical function possible through the third trimester, not to eliminate the load entirely.
Who Develops Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy
Pelvic girdle pain is most common in the second and third trimester as the uterus grows and the structural load on the pelvis increases. That’s one reason many moms start chiropractic care before the third trimester, while the load is still building. Patients with a history of prior PGP in a previous pregnancy almost always develop it again, typically earlier and with more intensity. Those with pre-existing SI joint dysfunction or lumbar instability before pregnancy are more likely to develop it during. First-time mothers carrying larger babies, those with hypermobile joints generally, and those with physically demanding jobs or long periods of sustained posture develop it at higher rates. At Vita Nova, the most common presentation is unilateral SI joint pain that changes the gait pattern and worsens with any single-leg activity.
How Dr. Korrin Approaches Pelvic Pain Using Zone Technique and Webster Technique
For pelvic pain during pregnancy, Zone Technique and the Webster Technique work together at every visit. The glandular zone(1) governs the relaxin and hormonal signaling that drives ligamentous laxity. When Zone 1 is under interference, the hormonal regulation of ligament tension becomes less precise and the asymmetry between the two SI joints increases. The nervous zone(3) governs the sacral nerve roots and the sciatic nerve pathways that frequently produce the radiating component of pelvic girdle pain into the hip or leg. The muscular zone(5) tracks the muscle guarding pattern that develops around an unstable pelvis. The piriformis and gluteal tension that compounds the SI joint pain and restricts hip mobility.
The Webster Technique assessment runs alongside Zone Technique at every prenatal visit. Webster specifically evaluates sacral alignment, SI joint symmetry, and the round ligament and uterine support muscle tension that pulls the pelvis into asymmetrical positioning. Correcting the sacral alignment through Webster reduces the structural asymmetry that Zone Technique interference is maintaining neurologically. The two approaches address different aspects of the same structural picture. Zone Technique at the nervous system level, Webster at the mechanical and soft tissue level.
Positioning is fully adapted for your trimester throughout. Side-lying with body pillow support is standard for second and third trimester visits. Nothing places pressure on the abdomen.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first visit begins with a Zone Technique assessment of the full nervous system. Dr. Korrin evaluates all six zones and identifies where interference is present, then performs the Webster Technique assessment of sacral alignment and SI joint symmetry. The assessment takes 15 to 20 minutes. He will ask where the pelvic pain is located, whether it is one-sided or bilateral, what activities make it worse, whether there is any radiating component into the hip or leg, and how far along you are. You leave the first visit with a clear explanation of what the assessment found and a care frequency recommendation appropriate for your trimester and presentation.
Pelvic girdle pain frequently presents alongside sciatica during pregnancy because both involve the sacral nerve roots and SI joint complex. If round ligament pain is also present, the Webster Technique assessment addresses that alongside the pelvic pain in the same visit. For the broader picture of how Dr. Korrin approaches prenatal care, the pregnancy chiropractic care page covers the full scope of Zone Technique and Webster Technique prenatal care at Vita Nova. The prenatal chiropractic care service page covers what care looks like trimester by trimester.
Expecting mothers from Plano, Murphy, and Richardson dealing with pelvic girdle pain that is limiting daily function are a consistent part of the prenatal practice at Vita Nova. Dr. Korrin is accepting new prenatal patients. Schedule your first visit to find out whether the pelvic pain has a structural and neurological pattern that Zone Technique and Webster Technique can address before delivery.
