A descriptive review of the somatic dysfunctions associated with myofascial chronic pelvic pain

Abstract

Myofascial pelvic pain is a major component of the chronic pelvic pain that is often not properly diagnosed by health care professionals. To fully understand the nature and function of the pelvic floor, it must be studied it in its most global aspect, taking into account numerous activities other than urological, gynecological, and intestinal ones: pelvic stabilization, participation in breathing, walking. It is necessary to consider the pelvic floor as a muscular-fascial unit with synergistic and antagonistic activity of muscle bundles, including more or less intertwined ones, with multiple functions, and not only with the function of closing the pelvic cup. Also, the pelvic floor muscles are connected to distant parts of the body, such as the feet and neck, through myofascial connections. Therefore, functional disorders in distant sites, such as flat feet, spasm of the respiratory diaphragm, or tension of the dura mater of the spinal cord, can lead to pelvic floor dysfunctions and musculofascial pain. In turn, pelvic floor dysfunctions will also affect the statics and dynamics of the body.