Women in pain from the pelvis, from fibroids or from cysts often curl up — tensing the whole body, for instance into a foetal position. In that posture the pelvic floor, the abdominal muscles and the hips shorten.
Another source of pain is scars or adhesions, for example after gynaecological surgery. Those scars pull on muscles, which in turn pull on joints, producing asymmetrical positioning of the organs and of the posture. Adhesions that form after operations can cause pain during intercourse, urination or bowel movements, because all of those stretch them.
Beyond changes in the joints and muscles, pain can also arise from altered movement patterns and reduced tissue elasticity. It then becomes essential to stretch those shortened muscles and the fascia surrounding them, giving the tissues freedom to glide over each other and the nerves freedom to move between the muscle fibres.
To reduce the pain we can also use a range of exercises, along with manual therapy and massage. We focus as well on restoring a normal breathing pattern and correct posture.
Therapy
- Manual pain-relief techniques
- Internal trigger point release
- Learning self-treatment
- Manual therapy
- Dry needling
- Mobilisation of scars and adhesions in the pelvis
- Osteopathic techniques for the sacroiliac joints
- Sets of pain-relief exercises
- Breathing work
- Stretching exercises