Particularly common among athletes, pubalgia associated with pain in the pubis also affects women during pregnancy. Causes, symptoms, treatments: the point with Dr Marc Perez, sports doctor and osteopath.
Definition: what is pubalgia?
Pubalgia characterizes a pain felt in the pubic area. This term is often misused when referring to pain in the lower abdomen or inguinal region (i.e. groin), and not really localized pain at the level of the pubis, which is central to it in front of the bladder. “There are 3 types of pubalgia: tallTHE medium and the bass. The upper ones by tendinosis of the abdominal muscles inserting themselves on the pubic bone; the middle touching the articulation between the two pubic rami; the bass or tendinosis of the adductor muscles inserting on the pubic rami”explains Dr. Marc Perez, sports doctor and author of the book “My bible of osteo-gym” published by Leduc.S.
What are the causes of pubalgia?
Among athletes. Pubalgia can develop at the expense of the muscles of the pubic region, especially among athletes subjected to intensive daily training. THE sports overwork, when it leads to repetitive strain injuries or excessive strain on the muscles in the pubic area, is indeed in question. One of the the sports most prone to pubalgia is footballbut this painful condition can also occur in dance or in gymnastic. Pubalgia can also appear in case of fracture of a bone from this same region.
What are the symptoms ?
Pubalgia is manifested by pubic and/or groin pain. It can also radiate to the inner thigh. “After a short inflammatory phase of a few days, a pain related to the movement of walking on muscle insertion. There is no pain at rest” adds the sports doctor.
Pubalgia and pregnancy
Generally, pubalgia manifests itself in the sixth month of pregnancy, when the weight of the baby begins to press on the pelvis. However, you should not worry because this disorder usually disappears spontaneously after childbirth. “During the latter part of pregnancy, relaxin is secreted to relax ligaments and tendons in order to soften the articulation of the two pubic branches and the sacroiliac to allow the passage of the baby through the pelvis. The separation of the two pubic branches during the passage of the baby can lead to malposition during the return to normal and cause postpartum pubic pain”. explains the sports doctor-osteopath.
The treatment combines takinganti-inflammatories at the very beginning or mesotherapy which is less toxic, the rest, stretching, physiotherapy as well as the rehabilitation of gestures for athletes. “We must not forget the osteopathic manipulation the pubic branches of the sacroiliac joints and the dorso-lumbar junctione by the sports doctor osteopath at the rate of two to four sessions if the rest is not effective”, recommends the specialist.
Advice
If you feel pain in the pubic area, consult your doctor (or a sports doctor). And think of warm up well before exercising. “Also think about hydrating yourself before, during and after sport. If the local treatment of the pubis does not work, you have to look for a sacroiliac pain or pain from the thoraco-lumbar junction to the rotation of the trunk” notes Dr. Marc Perez.
Thanks to Dr. Marc Perez, sports doctor.