title: Gynecological surgery and low back pain in older women: testing the association with sacroiliac joint stiffness and pelvic floor movements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine sacroiliac joint compliance characteristics and pelvic floor movements in older women relative to gynecological surgery history and back pain complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-visit laboratory measurement.
  
  
  METHODS
  University clinical research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five women aged 65 years or older.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sacroiliac joint compliance measured by Doppler imaging of vibrations and ultrasound measures of pelvic floor motion during the active straight leg raise test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Doppler imaging of vibrations demonstrated test reliability ranging from 0.701 to 0.898 for detecting vibration on the ilium and sacrum sides of the sacroiliac joint. The presence of low-back pain or prior gynecological surgery was not significantly associated with a difference in the compliance or laxity symmetry of the sacroiliac joints. No significant difference in pelvic floor movement was found during the active straight leg raise test between subject groups. All P values were ≥.4159.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prior gynecological surgery and low-back pain were not significantly associated with side-to-side differences in the compliance of the sacroiliac joints or in significant changes in pelvic floor movement during a loading maneuver in a group of older women.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA USA ; Hunter Holmes McGuire Veteran's Administration Hospital.
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ericksen
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Pidcoe
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ketchum-McKinney
authors.forename: Evie N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Burnet
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoogstad
keywords: Doppler imaging of vibrations; aging; back pain; gynecologic surgery; pelvic floor; sacroiliac joint