Effects of a New Mattress and Pillow and Standard Treatment for Nightly Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnant Women: A Randomised Controlled Study
Study by C. Feldthusen, M. Fagevik Olsén, H. Ejnell and H. Elden (Sweden)
Randomised Controlled Trial · International Journal of Women's Health (Vol. 13, pp. 1251-1260) · DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S335977
Key Takeaway
A Memory Foam Mattress and Pillow Eased Nightly Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy
What was tested: 66 pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain at night were randomly given either standard treatment plus a memory foam mattress and pillow (34 women) or standard treatment alone (32 women) for 4 weeks (Feldthusen et al., 2021).
What the numbers showed: Nightly pain at the back of the pelvis fell more in the mattress group, by 16.5 mm on a 0 to 100 mm pain scale. Sleep time rose 26 minutes in the mattress group and 14 minutes in the control group, and the mattress group woke less often at night.
What this means for you: A pressure-relieving mattress and pillow may help with pelvic pain at night in pregnancy. But a third of the women dropped out, and the authors say the results should be read with caution.
Key Numbers
How the Study Was Done
This randomised controlled study was run at a university hospital in Sweden. It enrolled 66 pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain at night, meaning pain around the back or front of the pelvis. All received standard treatment such as advice and exercises. 34 were also given a memory foam mattress and pillow, and 32 received standard treatment only (Feldthusen et al., 2021).
The mattress and pillow were layered foam with a memory foam top layer, offered in soft and medium-firm versions. They were first designed for people with sleep apnoea, to discourage sleeping on the back. The main outcome was the change in nightly pain at the back of the pelvis over 4 weeks, rated on a 0 to 100 mm visual scale.
What the Study Compared
Standard Treatment + Mattress and Pillow
Nightly back-of-pelvis pain fell 16.5 mm more than in the control group. Sleep time rose 26 minutes and night wake-ups fell.
Standard Treatment Only
The comparison group. Sleep time rose 14 minutes, while daily function and daytime sleepiness got worse over the 4 weeks.
What the Study Found
Nightly pain at the back of the pelvis improved more in the mattress group, by 16.5 mm on the 0 to 100 mm scale (95% confidence interval 1.4 to 31.6, p = 0.028). Sleep time rose in both groups, by 26 minutes with the mattress and 14 minutes without it, and the difference between groups was significant (p = 0.046) (Feldthusen et al., 2021).
The mattress group also reported less evening pelvic pain (p = 0.008) and fewer wake-ups at night (p = 0.049). In the control group, daily function (p = 0.018) and daytime sleepiness (p = 0.021) got worse over the 4 weeks.
Only 44 of the 66 women (67%) completed the treatment, and the authors say the study did not have enough statistical power. It was funded by a research foundation of the Region of Västra Götaland, Sweden. One author, Dr Ejnell, owns the mattress and pillow design.
How to Apply This Study When Choosing a Mattress
What it tells you: Softer, pressure-relieving support may ease pelvic pain at night in pregnancy.
This study tested one foam mattress and pillow set that is not made for pregnancy. Talk to your midwife or doctor about pelvic pain, and use a trial period to judge any new mattress.
Study Scope and Limitations
66 women enrolled and only 44 finished, which the authors say leaves the study underpowered. The mattress was designed for sleep apnoea, not pregnancy, and one author owns its design. Results covered 4 weeks only.
Primary Citation
Feldthusen, C., Fagevik Olsén, M., Ejnell, H., & Elden, H. (2021). Effects of a new mattress and pillow and standard treatment for nightly pelvic girdle pain in pregnant women: A randomised controlled study. International Journal of Women's Health, 13, 1251-1260. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S335977