Pelvic floor examination (PFE) integration in the osteopathic assessment of pelvic girdle pain (PGP), a questionnaire-based study on the UK profession
Item
- Title
- Pelvic floor examination (PFE) integration in the osteopathic assessment of pelvic girdle pain (PGP), a questionnaire-based study on the UK profession
- Author(s)
- Vincenti, F
- Abstract
- Background: PGP is a sub-category of low-back pain. It shares co-morbidities with conditions like interstitial cystitis/ painful bladder syndrome or incontinence, all of which are linked with pelvic floor (PF) dysfunctions. PGP patients show increased activity, sensitivity to pain and tenderness of the PF muscles. The 2008 European Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Girdle Pain (EG-PGP) does not mention the PF. Objectives: Explore what factors influence UK osteopaths to adopt PFE when assessing PGP patients and determine compliance with current guidelines. Design: Cross-section, observational questionnaire. Method: Questionnaire distributed to 2536 GOsC-registered osteopaths. Data captured included: baseline characteristics, post-graduate training in PGP and Women’s Health (WH), use of PFE in clinic, compliance to the current guidelines for a PGP pathognomonic case, use of PFE for the case. Results analysed against baseline characteristics, post-graduate training, use of PFE in clinic and compliance with current guidelines using Pearson’s X² (significance p<0.05). Open box questions to understand the clinical reasoning which underpinned their decision to either assess the PF or not. Results: Response rate 11.4% (n=289) representing 5.39% of UK osteopaths. Statistically significant p-values (respectively 0,00170 and 0,00570) suggest that specific training in the fields of PGP and WH influences the decision to carry out a PFE. The use of PFE in their clinic was statistically significant (p<0.0001) in their decision to perform a PFE on the patient. Compliance to the EG-PGP is of no statistical significance (p=0.0784) in the decision to carry out a PFE. Discussion: The results about the training in the fields of WH and PGP are in line with the current literature, stating that training and knowledge about PF and WH leave practitioners more confident and able to deal with pelvic pain. The depth of literature about PGP diagnosis is very limited. Conclusion: Further research is required to investigate the benefits of a PFE in terms of diagnosis and treatment plan. This should be incorporated with other research to provide updated osteopathic clinical guidelines which would serve to better inform practitioners on the balance of risk versus benefits of PFE, allowing them to more confidently incorporate PFE into their practice whilst maximizing the protection of the patient.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2019
- Date Submitted
- 19.11.2019 18:31:10
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16516
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Pelvic Girdle Pain, Pelvic Floor Examination, Osteopathy
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Vincenti, F, “Pelvic floor examination (PFE) integration in the osteopathic assessment of pelvic girdle pain (PGP), a questionnaire-based study on the UK profession”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 9, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.org/s/orw/item/313