Association between lumbopelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction in women: A cross sectional study

Despite the availability of a large number of interventions, there is continues rise in the prevalence, cost, and disability associated with lumbopelvic pain. The number of studies investigated the correlation between lumbopelvic pain and pelvic floor function. However, the features that characterize this association have yet to be fully established. Therefore the findings of this study revealed that the high proportion of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is present among women with lumbopelvic pain.

The cost, disability and prevalence correlated with lumbopelvic pain rise continuously even in the presence of various therapeutic interventions, showing a deficit in current approaches. The literature that defines the associations between pelvic floor function and lumbopelvic pain is emerging; although, the characteristics that describe this association have yet to be fully discovered. This study aimed to assess the characteristics and incidences of pelvic floor muscle function in females with lumbopelvic pain.

A cross-sectional analysis was directed among non-pregnant females showing lumbopelvic pain to one of seven outpatient orthopaedic clinics in Canada. A screening process was conducted to evaluate pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

The analysis recruited 182 subjects, out of which only 85 selected. Out of these, 95.3% were found to have pelvic floor dysfunction. Specifically, 41% were found to have a pelvic organ prolapse, 71% had pelvic floor muscle tenderness, and 66% had pelvic floor weakness. Subjects with a combined pelvic girdle pain and low back pain displayed greater levels of pelvic floor dysfunction associated characteristics and functional disability.

Our conclusions support and lengthen recent investigation verifying the hypothesis that females with lumbopelvic pain present with high pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Specifically, extended pelvic floor muscle pressure-pain sensitivity expressed the most common features, the clinical indications of which need further research.