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Relations between pregnancy-related low back pain, pelvic floor activity and pelvic floor dysfunction

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Abstract

To assess the occurrence of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in pregnancy- related low back and pelvic pain (PLBP) patients, a cross-sectional study was performed, comprising 77 subjects. Each subject underwent physical assessment, and filled in the Urogenital Distress Inventory completed with gynaecological questions. Differences in the presence of PFD between PLBP patients and healthy controls as well as differences in pelvic floor muscle activity were tested for significance. Interaction by age and vaginal delivery were tested. PFD occurred in 52% of all PLBP patients, significantly more than in the healthy control group. In PLBP patients a significantly increased activity of the pelvic floor muscles could be demonstrated with respect to healthy controls. The occurrence of PFD and PLBP was influenced by a confounding effect of age. Clinicians should be aware of the relation between PLBP and PFD and hence address both problems at the same time.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to all physiotherapists who participated in the study, the Dutch Association of Pelvic Physical Therapists (NVFB) for their financial support and to Ria van Kruining.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Annelies L Pool-Goudzwaard & Chris J Snijders

  2. Centre for Pelvic reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Marijke C. P. H. Slieker ten Hove & Mark E Vierhout

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Paul. H. Mulder

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Rob Stoeckart

  5. EMGO institute, VU medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Jan J. M. Pool

  6. Medical Center Impact, Zoetermeer, Netherlands

    Annelies L Pool-Goudzwaard & Jan J. M. Pool

  7. Department of Biomedical Physics and Technology, Erasmus Medical Centre, PO Box 1738, 3000, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Annelies L Pool-Goudzwaard

Authors
  1. Annelies L Pool-Goudzwaard
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  2. Marijke C. P. H. Slieker ten Hove
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  3. Mark E Vierhout
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  4. Paul. H. Mulder
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  5. Jan J. M. Pool
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  6. Chris J Snijders
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  7. Rob Stoeckart
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Correspondence to Annelies L Pool-Goudzwaard.

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Pool-Goudzwaard, A.L., Slieker ten Hove, M.C.P.H., Vierhout, M.E. et al. Relations between pregnancy-related low back pain, pelvic floor activity and pelvic floor dysfunction. Int Urogynecol J 16, 468–474 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-1292-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-005-1292-7

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