Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and a Modified Lumbopelvic Belt on Pain, Kinesiophobia, and Functional Status in Pregnant Women With Symphysis Pubis Pain

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of pelvic floor muscle training and a modified lumbopelvic belt on pain, kinesiophobia, and functional status in pregnant women with symphysis pubis pain.Although the power analysis yielded a relatively small minimum sample size, the target sample size was increased to account for potential loss to follow-up and missing data, as may occur in clinical research. Accordingly, the study was planned to include at least 30 pregnant women in the final analysis, and 40 pregnant women will be recruited to allow for potential attrition and withdrawal.

Inclusion criteria Participants must: * Be pregnant and aged 18-40 years. * Have experienced pubic symphysis pain for at least 2 weeks, with pain more severe than any accompanying posterior pelvic pain. * Have positive findings on at least two of the following tests: pubic symphysis palpation, modified Trendelenburg test, and active straight leg raise test. * Provide written informed consent. Exclusion criteria Participants will be excluded for: * High-risk pregnancy or a medical contraindication to pelvic support belt use. * Serious systemic bone disease or a history of serious lumbar or pelvic trauma. * Current systemic corticosteroid use or active pelvic treatment/orthosis. * Neurological or cognitive conditions that prevent clinical testing or participation in the exercise program.