Adherence, tolerance and effectiveness of two different pelvic support belts as a treatment for pregnancy-related symphyseal pain - a pilot randomized trial

Table 2 Mean (SD) outcome values for study groups at baseline and after 3 weeks intervention

Variable	Flexible belt		Rigid belt		Changes
	Baseline	Follow-up	Baseline	Follow-up	Difference^†	95% CI	p-value
PSFS	6.5 (1.6)	4.2 (2.9)	7.1 (1.6)	4.7 (2.4)	−0.1	−2.5, 2.3	0.938
Pain VAS (preceding 24 hours)	55.5 (24.0)	37.9 (26.6)	58.2 (24.4)	58.9 (22.3)	0.6^*	0.4, 1.0	0.049
Pain VAS (preceding week)	68.7 (21.3)	53.0 (30.0)	71.6 (18.0)	64 (23.1)	0.8^*	0.5, 1.4	0.478
MODQ	30.5 (15.7)	25.5 (19.6)	28.0 (14.7)	27.1 (15.5)	−3.9	−14.8, 6.9	0.454
Compliance (number of hours worn)	5.0 (2.1)		4.9 (3.6)		Combined (Flexible and Rigid)		4.9 (2.9)

*Log-transformed prior to statistical modelling due to skew and heteroscedasticity in residuals so difference is a ratio of geometric means with values < 1 indicating lower values in the flexible belt group.
Significance taken as P <0.05. Abbreviations: MODQ, Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire; PSFS, Patient Specific Functional Scale; SD, standard deviation; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.
^†Lower values indicate lower follow-up scores adjusting for baseline values in the flexible belt group.

ISSN: 1471-2393