Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction: The month prior to my completing my Diploma in Bowen Therapy I treated an elderly overweight female patient who on her second treatment with me felt comfortable enough to let me know that she was experiencing pain in her pubic bone with swelling. She found it difficult to get in and out of her car and felt pain on sitting and going up and down stairs. The only Smart Bowen moves that I knew that would assist this condition was for me to do the rectus abdominus moves which treat the four trigger points of the symphysis pubis. And so I did those and they were all active. I researched the pain she was experiencing in her pubic bone (technical name is symphysis pubis) and found it to be a condition called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. Largely it is found to be in pregnant women but not always, some men also get it. In my research, I found that it would be helpful to her if she rolled up a small towel to act as a fulcrum and placed it under her left buttock and lay on it for up to 5 minutes daily. I also found this youtube video for a self-care exercise which I thought would assist (if she didn’t have someone to do it with her, I advised her to use a towel and then perhaps tupperware containers for the appropriate width - check it out and you will know what I mean): youtube/watch?v=aVW7lalrwxE I suggested that if she did not get relief from me within a week or two, I would suggest getting an x-ray to determine the width of movement and to check for a possible rupture. As it turned out, upon returning for her third treatment she was fully healed of this condition purely by doing the self-care exercises at home between treatments. Below is some helpful information which I emailed her regarding the condition: Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction This simply means that the joint at the front of the pelvis (the symphysis pubis) is not working as it should be. Together with the two large joints at the back of the pelvis (the sacroiliac, or SI joints), the symphysis pubis plays an important part in holding the pelvis steady during any activity, which involves the legs. If the joint is not firmly ‘tied’ by its ligaments it cannot perform its role effectively, resulting in excessive strain being placed on all the pelvic joints. This can give rise to the symptoms of SPD. Symptoms of SPD These vary with the severity of the condition and symptoms will be experienced differently for every woman. It has been found that the severity of the symptoms does not relate to the degree of separation at the symphysis pubis joint and therefore, in the presence of pain, a separation between 5 and 9mm is diagnostic. The pain may remain static, i.e. in just one place such as the front of the pelvis, or in other cases it may start in one area and move to other areas. It is likely that you will experience a combination of the symptoms. These include: • Pain over the symphysis pubis joint • Pain described as a deep bruising, burning or stabbing pain • Tender to touch – having the fundal height measured may be painful • Lower back pain, especially in the sacroiliac area • Hip, groin and lower abdominal pain • Reduced hip range of motion, abduction (moving out to the side) especially painful • Radiating pain to the inner thigh • Waddling / shuffling gait • Increased pubic pain on normal activity, e.g. walking, parting and lifting the legs • Audible clicking / grinding sound coming from the pelvis (at the symphysis pubis) • Bladder dysfunction (temporary incontinence with changes in position) Because the pelvis serves as an anchoring point for many of our muscles and the pelvic joints play an important role in weight bearing activities, patients will have a difficulty with: Rolling over in bed, Going up or down stairs, Getting in and out of cars, Sitting down / getting up, Putting on clothes, Bending Lifting / standing on one foot, Lifting heavy objects, Getting moving, especially after sleep, Getting in / out of the bath, Difficulty walking with a long stride. isischiropractic.co.uk/chiropractic_pelvic_dysfunction.html In my training with the College of Applied Myoskeletal Therapy, I have now learned new ways of treating this condition. If you, or anyone you know suffers with SPD, please contact me on 0411 703 109 so that I may assist you with the healing of this very painful condition.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:41:08 +0000