At our recent AGM (19th June 2025), Jasmine Darley from the University of Plymouth kindly presented a summary of her PhD research for us. You can watch her talk here, or read a summary below.
The problem: We know manual therapy works for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP), but not enough research exists to make it widely available on the NHS. Meanwhile, many women are still being told “it’s just hormones” or “it’ll get better after birth” – messages we know aren’t true.
Jasmine is investigating why pregnant women with PGP aren’t participating in research studies, and how we can change that. Her goal? To understand what women actually need from researchers so that future studies work better for everyone involved.
The stark reality: Only just over half of PGP research studies achieve their recruitment targets. Without enough participants, we can’t prove treatments work – which means they don’t get recommended.
The biggest barrier: Trust. After experiencing dismissive healthcare, many women are understandably reluctant to participate in research.
Current recruitment methods aren’t working well:
– Most studies rely on clinician referrals (midwives, physios)
– Many don’t consider the practical realities of being pregnant and in pain
What women may actually need to encourage them to take part:
– Flexible appointments that work around their lives
– Childcare support
– Researchers who truly listen and understand their experiences
– Clear communication about why the research matters
– Minimal time commitment – respect that participants are busy and in pain
Better research means:
– More treatment options available on the NHS
– Healthcare providers who understand PGP properly
– Policy changes based on evidence
– Care that respects women’s experiences
The researcher is looking for women with lived experience of PGP to share their thoughts through interviews starting this autumn. This is your chance to help shape how future research is designed – making it more accessible and respectful of what women actually need.
Because when research works better for participants, we get better evidence. And better evidence means better care for everyone.
