Sinéad Dufour1, Brittany Vandyken2, Marie-Jose Forget3, Carolyn Vandyken3. 1. McMaster University, School of Rehabilitation Science, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: sdufour@mcmaster.ca. 2. McMaster University, School of Rehabilitation Science, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 3. Pelvic Health Solutions, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prevalence, cost and disability associated with lumbopelvic pain continues to rise despite the range of available therapeutic interventions, indicating a deficiency in current approaches. A literature base highlighting a correlation between lumbopelvic pain and pelvic floor function is developing; however, the features that characterize this correlation have yet to be fully established. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pelvic floor muscle function among women with lumbopelvic pain. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on non-pregnant women presenting with lumbopelvic pain to one of seven outpatient orthopaedic clinics in Canada. Potential participants underwent a screening process to assess for pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. RESULTS: A total of 182 women were recruited and 97 were excluded, leaving 85 participants (n = 85). Of these, 95.3% were determined to have some form of pelvic floor dysfunction. Specifically, 71% of the participants had pelvic floor muscle tenderness, 66% had pelvic floor weakness and 41% were found to have a pelvic organ prolapse. Participants with combined low back pain and pelvic girdle pain presented with higher levels of disability and increased characteristics of pelvic floor dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings corroborate and extend recent research supporting the hypothesis that a high proportion of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is present among women with lumbopelvic pain. Specifically, increased pelvic floor muscle pressure-pain sensitivity represented the most frequent characteristic, the clinical implications of which require further study.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence, cost and disability associated with lumbopelvic pain continues to rise despite the range of available therapeutic interventions, indicating a deficiency in current approaches. A literature base highlighting a correlation between lumbopelvic pain and pelvic floor function is developing; however, the features that characterize this correlation have yet to be fully established. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pelvic floor muscle function among women with lumbopelvic pain. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on non-pregnant women presenting with lumbopelvic pain to one of seven outpatient orthopaedic clinics in Canada. Potential participants underwent a screening process to assess for pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. RESULTS: A total of 182 women were recruited and 97 were excluded, leaving 85 participants (n = 85). Of these, 95.3% were determined to have some form of pelvic floor dysfunction. Specifically, 71% of the participants had pelvic floor muscle tenderness, 66% had pelvic floor weakness and 41% were found to have a pelvic organ prolapse. Participants with combined low back pain and pelvic girdle pain presented with higher levels of disability and increased characteristics of pelvic floor dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings corroborate and extend recent research supporting the hypothesis that a high proportion of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is present among women with lumbopelvic pain. Specifically, increased pelvic floor muscle pressure-pain sensitivity represented the most frequent characteristic, the clinical implications of which require further study.
Authors: Małgorzata Starzec-Proserpio; Montserrat Rejano-Campo; Agata Szymańska; Jacek Szymański; Barbara Baranowska Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-05-20 Impact factor: 4.614