Bond University studies pregnancy SRC leggings and their benefits to pregnancy back pain
by Nada Radi, women's health physiotherapist
SRC is an Australian company producing compression wear for pregnancy, post natal, surgery and sports. The Fix Program sell these garments for our pregnant and post natal mums and all love them. Better still, the Australian Physiotherapy Association do too, but what is the evidence behind these? Has there been any scientific research to back the benefits in wearing these compression shorts and leggings?
In 2017, Bond University in Australia investigated the current literature on the effectiveness of pregnancy compression garments like the SRC pregnancy shorts. They found a gap in research in this area which directed them into starting a trial to explore the effectiveness of pregnancy compression garments in the prevention and management of common pregnancy related pains such as back pain, pelvic pain and vulvar varicosities.
Lower back and pelvic pain is a common symptom for pregnant women. Up to 70% of all pregnant women will suffer from back or pelvic pain within their pregnancy period. This is as a result of increased load from a growing baby and loosened pelvic joints from pregnancy hormones. The good news is that in most women, these pains will disappear after labour when baby is no longer within the pelvis and the hormones begin to change again.
Vulvar varicosities (near the vagina and pelvic floor) is another common pregnancy side effect that no-one warns you about! This again can be triggered as a result of increased load of baby in the pelvis and the effects of progesterone. These varicose veins can lead to debilitating pain. These symptoms can get stronger as pregnancy progresses and can significantly impact ability to perform daily activities.
The Bond University study
The research trial at Bond divided pregnant women suffering from pregnancy back and pelvic pain into two groups. The first group wore the SRC pregnancy shorts, combined with the usual care of physiotherapy, massage and education/postural advice. The second group received only usual care alone. The trial assessed a few outcome measures like pain, disability and body temperature. The outcome measures were assessed at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of the groups receiving their treatment.
The results indicated that the group wearing the SRC pregnancy shorts had significantly LESS pain and disability than the group receiving usual care, whilst being thermally safe to wear as well. The trial concluded that wearing pregnancy compression garments such as the SRC pregnancy shorts or leggings are an effective way to reduce and manage pregnancy related back/pelvic pain or varicose veins, and improve functional capacity whilst pregnant.
Contact The Fix Program for your free fitting consultation. We stock pregnancy pre-natal leggings and shorts for wearing under your clothes, and also the ever popular recovery post-natal leggings, shorts and now, mini shorts.
