Training Videos - Ouch my Pelvis Hurts

Ouch my Pelvis Hurts. The use of Acupuncture in treating women with pelvic and sexual pain. An effective and often under utilised tool.

Chronic pelvic pain is reported to affect up to 25% of women. Sexual pain is also highly prevalent, with up to 75% of women experiencing dyspareunia at some point in their lives. Increasing recognition of the biopsychosocial nature of chronic pain, together with the frequent overlap of pelvic, sexual and other persistent pain conditions, highlights the role of central sensitisation in pelvic pain.

Acupuncture is thought to enhance the descending inhibitory effect and modulate the feeling of pain, thus modifying central sensitization.  This makes acupuncture a valuable adjunct to physiotherapy in the management of persistent pelvic and sexual pain.

The concept of biotensegrity provides a clinically useful framework for understanding the body as an integrated tensional system rather than the traditional thinking of bones, muscles and tendons in isolation.

Thomas Myers’ deep frontal line of fascia links the plantar fascia in the feet to the tongue via the pelvic floor. Acupuncture applied along this myofascial continuum can be helpful in influencing pelvic floor tone, pain and movement patterns.

This presentation explores the evidence base and clinical application of acupuncture, informed by pain science and fascial anatomy, in the physiotherapy management of pelvic and sexual pain.