Pelvic pain syndromes are characterised by pain below the navel lasting more than six months. They occur more often in women than in men. Physiotherapy for pelvic pain begins with a functional assessment. It allows the pelvic floor muscles to be evaluated: their tone, their ability to contract and their ability to relax.
Women with pelvic pain have been shown to have raised pelvic floor muscle tone. It shows itself in a pathological activation that makes it hard to release the muscle structures, reduces the strength of the contraction and the endurance, and comes with a lack of control over the contraction being made. An important part of the functional assessment is mapping the trigger points within the pelvic floor muscles, and also within the peripheral muscles, the muscles of the pelvic girdle, the lower limbs and the trunk. The functional assessment covers the history, the physical examination and examination per vaginam and/or per rectum.
In treating pelvic floor pain syndromes, manual therapy aims to release the muscles, free up tension and trigger points, improve blood flow, and improve mobility and postural balance.
Therapy
- trigger point therapy
- deep tissue massage
- relaxing massage
- fascial therapy
- learning self-therapy
- dry needling
- cupping
- osteopathic techniques on the sacrum