Review Article

The Effect of Maternity Support Garments on Alleviation of Pains and Discomforts during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Table 1

Summary of studies on the effectiveness of MSGs.

ReferencesStudy DesignSample sizeGestational AgeType of PainPain verificationStudy durationGarment usedOutcome measuresMethod of measurementConclusion of the study

Carr [11]Pilot study, prospective, nonrandomized, two-group design with repeated measuresIntervention group: 30 women
Comparison group: 10 women
At least 20 weeksLow back pain, excluding women with preexisting back pain or disc diseaseSelf-report LBP over the previous week at least at a “medium” level2 weeks(i)Support Belt/Binder: The Loving Comfort lumbosacral orthosisLow back pain intensity and durationPain in pregnancy profile (PIP): scale: 0 “no pain" to 10 “the worst pain"The use of a support belt for LBP is effective in reducing pain scores and improving PIP scores.
The belt of study is easy to use and well accepted by pregnant women.
Influence of pain on ADLActivity-related effect of pain on activities: scale 0 “all the time" to 7 “never" plus nonapplicable option (on pain in pregnancy (PIP) questionnaire)
Acceptability of the support garmentOpen-ended questions about acceptability of the support garment
Kalus, Kornman [12]Randomized controlled trial94 women20-36 weeksLumbar back pain or posterior pelvic (SIJ) Based on an oral history and on the patient’s localization of their pain on a visual back chart 3 weeks(i) Full torso garment: Belly Bra® (intervention)
(ii) “Tubigrip” (control)
Low back and posterior pelvic pain severityVisual Analogue Scale (VAS)The garments used during the study are effective for reducing the severity of LBP, with Belly Bra® being more effective in alleviating the impact of pain on specific ADL.
Influence of pain in physical activityLikert scale
Satisfaction with lifeSatisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)
Kordi, Abolhasani [21]Randomized controlled trial, 3 groups of study96 women21-30 weeksPelvic girdle painPain drawing and positive result of one of the two following tests:
(i) Patrick’s test and posterior pelvic pain provocation test for patients with more pain around the SIJ
(ii) Modifying Trendelenburg test and direct palpation of the symphysis pubis test for patients with more complaints in symphysis pubis
6 weeks(i) Nonrigid lumbopelvic beltPelvic girdle pain intensityVisual Analogue Scale (VAS)The combination of the use of a lumbopelvic belt with information about ergonomics and anatomy of the spine during pregnancy is more effective than the combination of exercise and information to reduce PGP and to improve functional mobility of women during pregnancy, improving QOL
Quality of lifeWorld Health Organization’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF)
Functional statusOswestry Disability Index Questionnaire (ODI)
Cakmak, Inanir [19]Prospective and observational cohort study90 women: 30 per trimesterFirst, second, and third trimestersN/AN/ANot mentioned(i) Maternity support belt: Variteks Ortopedi Sanayi Postural stabilityOverall Stability Index (OA) - level 8 - range of scores from O° to 20°(i) MSGs are useful for improvement of impaired balance and FRT scores across all trimesters of gestation, helping to reduce the risk of falling of pregnant women
Anterior-posterior stability index (APSI) - level 8 - range of scores from O° to 20°
Medial-lateral stability index (MLSI) - level 8 - range of scores from O° to 20°
Fall Risk Test (FRT) - level 8 - range of scores from O° to 20°
Flack, Hay-Smith [20]Unblinded, single-center, 2-arm, parallel-group randomized pilot trial20 women29-38 weeksPubic symphyseal painA positive response to at least two of three clinical tests: reproduction of pain from palpation, modified Trendelenburg’s test, or active straight leg raise test3 weeks(i) Rigid belt: LC symphysis pubis belt (The Orthotic Center)
(ii) Nonrigid belt: Smiley belt
Symphyseal pain intensityVisual Analogue Scale (VAS)(i) Pelvic support belts may have a positive effect in the reduction of pubic symphyseal pain and improvement of functionality in pregnant women.
(ii) Nonrigid belts may be more comfortable and effective for managing pelvic symphyseal pain than rigid belts
Influence of symphyseal pain on ADLModified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ)
Influence of symphyseal pain on disabilityPatient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS)
Joint hypermobilityNine-point Beighton Hypermobility Score
Bertuit, Van Lint [25]Randomized control trial, two-group longitudinal study46 womenFrom 18 weeksPain in the SIJ and/or pubic region, excluding women with presence of lumbar-pelvic pain before pregnancyPositive result for at least half of the following set of tests: posterior pelvic pain provocation test, Patrick Faber’s test, Trendelenburg modified test, pain provocation tests, and active straight leg raise test during clinical examination(i) Measurement 1 at start of study
(ii) Measurement 2 at 34 weeks of pregnancy
(i) Ortel-P® Pelvic Maternity Belt-Thuasne belt
(ii) Lomba Mum Maternity Lumbar Brace-Thuasne
Pelvic girdle painVisual Analogue Scale (VAS)The use of maternity support belts reduced PGP, particularly on the SIJ over a 9-week period by increasing women proprioception and biomechanical effects.
The use of belts improved the performance of ADL by pregnant women.
Topographic representation
Functional capacityQuebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS)