Postural changes in women with chronic pelvic pain: a case control study.
BACKGROUND
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a lower abdominal pain lasting at least 6 months, occurring continuously or intermittently and not associated exclusively with menstruation or intercourse. Although the musculoskeletal system has been found to be involved in CPP, few studies have assessed the contribution of posture in women with CPP. We aimed to determine if the frequency of postural changes was higher in women with CPP than healthy subjects.


METHODS
A case-control study included 108 women with CPP of more than 6 months' duration (CPP group) who consecutively attended at the Hospital of the University of São Paulo and 48 healthy female volunteers (control group). Postural assessment was noninvasive and performed in the standing position, with the reference points of Kendall used as normal parameters. Factors associated with CPP were assessed by logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Logistic regression showed that the independent factors associated with CPP were postural changes in the cervical spine (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.6-10.7; p < 0.01) and scapulae (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.1-7.6; p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Musculoskeletal changes were associated with CPP in 34% of women. These findings suggest that a more detailed assessment of women with CPP is necessary for better diagnosis and for more effective treatment.
Montenegro
Mary Lls
ML
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of Sao Paulo- Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. montenegro_ml@hotmail.com
Mateus-Vasconcelos
Elaine Cl
EC
Rosa E Silva
Júlio C
JC
Dos Reis
Francisco J Candido
FJ
Nogueira
Antonio A
AA
Poli-Neto
Omero B
OB
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012540:Scapula / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult