2011/05/25 by Rodney U. Anderson, David Wise, Timothy Sawyer +1 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Medicine #Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation #Myofascial pain #Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment #Myofascial pain syndrome #Pathology #Pelvic pain #Physical therapy #Pregnancy-related medical research #Surgery
paper · doi:10.1097/ajp.0b013e31821dbd76
openalex publication_date 2011/05/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
OBJECTIVES: Pelvic muscle tenderness occurs often in patients with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome; symptoms frequently can be reduced with pelvic myofascial physical therapy. This open-label pilot study evaluated the safety of a personal wand that enables patient's self-treatment of internal myofascial trigger points in the pelvic floor and its effect in reducing pelvic muscle tenderness. METHODS: A specially designed curved wand served as an extended finger to locate and release painful internal myofascial trigger points; an integrated algometer monitors and guides appropriate applied point pressure. Patients used the wand several times weekly after education and careful supervision. Evaluations for adverse events and assessments of pain sensitivity were conducted at 1 and 6 months after commencing use. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen of the enrolled 157 patients completed 6 months of wand use-106 men and 7 women; 44 patients withdrew before study completion but none for adverse events. Median age was 41 years and 93% were male. Baseline median sensitivity visual analog scale score (1 to 10, 10=most sensitive) was 7.5 and decreased significantly at 6 months to 4 (P<0.001, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test). Most patients (95.5%) reported the wand as either very or moderately effective in alleviating pain. No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: A multimodal protocol using an internal pelvic therapeutic wand seems to be a safe, viable treatment option in select refractory patients with pelvic pain.