Contraction of the transverse abdominal muscle in pelvic girdle pain is enhanced by pain provocation during the task. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mens, Jan M.; Pool-Goudzwaard, Annelies
• Is Part Of: Musculoskeletal science and practice. Volume 32(2017)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Pelvic girdle pain -- Pregnancy -- Motor control -- Sacroiliac joint; Manipulation (Therapeutics) -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; Neuromuscular diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Manipulation (Therapeutics); Neuromuscular diseases -- Treatment; Physical therapy; Manipulation, Orthopedic; Musculoskeletal Diseases -- therapy; Neuromuscular Diseases -- therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 615.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.09.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-8630

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Understanding of the pathogenesis of pain in the lumbopelvic region remains a challenge. It is suggested that lumbopelvic pain is related to decreased contraction of the transverse abdominal muscles (TrA). Objective: To investigate how pain provoked by a task influences TrA contraction during that task. Design: A case-control cross-sectional study. Method: We recruited 40 non-pregnant women with persistent pregnancy-related posterior pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and 33 parous women (healthy controls) without PGP. TrA thickness was measured by ultrasound at various levels of bilateral hip adduction, with increments of 20 N from 0 to 140 N. Pain during the tests was registered. Results: After correction for the level of adduction force, TrA thickness increase during pain-provoking tests of participants with PGP was 6.3 percentage points higher than in their pain-free tests ( p = 0.01) and 0.91 percentage points higher than in the pain-free tests of healthy controls ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: TrA contraction in PGP is enhanced when a task provokes pain. These results may have consequences for the treatment of persistent pregnancy-related posterior pelvic girdle pain. Highlights: Contraction of the transverse abdominal muscle is studied in pelvic girdle pain. The contraction is close to zero as long as the task is not pain provoking. The contraction is enhanced as the task provokes pain. The results of this study may have consequences for the treatment of this patient group.