Pelvic Floor Spasm: Often Misdiagnosed When Assessing Pelvic Pain

Despite their commonality, pelvic floor musculoskeletal disorders too often go unrecognized during the evaluation of pelvic pain syndromes.  Contemporary OBGYN highlighted this prevalent women’s health issue:

Summary

Even experienced practitioners may misdiagnose patients with pelvic pain if they do not specifically examine the pelvic diaphragm. Attention to the pelvic floor musculature during pelvic examinations is an effective and inexpensive diagnostic strategy that can be life-changing for patients with pelvic pain, yet requires minimal time and effort. These patients may have to undergo the usual chronic pelvic pain algorithm without the option of physical therapy if hypertonus goes unrecognized. Physical therapy with or without pharmacologic management offers many patients significant relief or even resolution. Educating patients and using physical therapy to make them active partners in their own care give women with chronic pelvic pain a sense of empowerment and benefit them physically and psychologically. Although the inverted single-digit examination of the pelvic floor musculature is well established in the literature, we again emphasize its use as a routine element of the pelvic evaluation. This simple technique may reduce cost and suffering in this patient population with minimal diagnostic effort.

For the full coverage (further reading on the prevalence and causes of pelvic pain as well as the evaluation and subsequent management of chronic pelvic pain), please read: http://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com/contemporary-obgyn/content/tags/chronic-pain/pelvic-floor-spasm-missing-link-chronic-pelvic-pain?page=full PT Effect offers San Diego’s premier physical therapy services, including comprehensive women health services.  To book your appointment with us today, Contact Us Now.