Osteopathic approach in chronic pelvic pain in women

A systematic literature review

Abstract

Chronic pelvic pain is a common gynecological complaint, affecting, for example, 5% of women in the United States. Women undergo cyclical hormonal changes, significant biomechanical alterations during pregnancy, psychosocial stress, modifications during and after child-rearing, and menopause, making it more common than in men. The differential diagnosis is complex and includes medical conditions, surgical indications, musculoskeletal imbalances, and somatic dysfunctions. The objective of this study was to conduct a literature review to determine if comprehensive osteopathic management is a suitable option for many women with chronic pelvic pain. A literature search was performed in the Medline PubMed, Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, and Google Academic databases. The studies and works consulted described that the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in women is very high, surpassing initial assumptions, and that there is considerable difficulty in accurate diagnosis and, consequently, treatment. Comprehensive osteopathic management incorporating various techniques such as OMT, muscle energy, trigger points, balanced ligamentous tension, myofascial release, among others, showed excellent preliminary and very promising results. However, all of them require further studies to solidify their efficacy due to the multitude of causes that contribute to chronic pelvic pain in women.