What is pubalgia? Where is the pubis located? How can we treat it?
What is pubalgia?
Pubalgia is a pathology that consists in the inflammation of the pubis, an area formed by cartilage where both hemipelvises are joined in the anterior part. In this area different muscles are inserted such as the rectus abdominis, adductors and obliques, therefore, problems in this muscle can lead to pubic problems.
Causes of pubalgia
The main causes may be:
- Overuse: Due to repetitive movements in this area, sudden changes of direction or excessive hip movements. It is more frequent in soccer players and runners.
- Pregnancy: Due to the process of laxity that the ligaments of the pubic area undergo, this may cause more tension in the pubic area.
- Trauma: Repetitive blows to this area can cause micro-injuries to the pubic ligaments.
- Muscular problems: Any pathology either overload, rupture, elongation, etc. of the muscles mentioned above can cause tension changes in the pubic area causing local pain.
What are the symptoms of pubalgia?
The main symptom is pain in the lower abdomen that may radiate to the area of those muscles that are related to the pubis (adductors, abdominals and obliques).
Treatments for pubalgia
Conservative treatment
The patient would rest from any activity that causes pain in that area and take anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic drugs as prescribed by a physician.
Conventional treatment
It would consist of the application of magnetotherapy, ultrasound and punctual laser with the objective of reducing pain and inflammation and the application of manual therapy (MT) to achieve a decrease in the tension of the muscles related to the pubis.
Advanced treatment
We have techniques such as EPI to achieve a decrease in inflammation at the level of the pubic cartilage and regenerate the area, Percutaneous Neuromodulation (PNM) focused on treating pain through the nerves responsible for innervating the pubic area and the surrounding musculature. And finally we have INDIBA, for the treatment of the musculature in order to reduce its tension and achieve relaxation and normal tone.