The Role of the Musculoskeletal System in Abdominopelvic Pain and Associated Symptoms

Musculoskeletal dysfunction is common with abdominopelvic pain. Because patients usually start their journey within a specific medical specialty, an assessment of the musculoskeletal system is frequently overlooked. Dysfunction of the pelvic muscles can refer pain to the pelvis and generate both urinary and defecatory symptoms, leading to invasive visceral investigations such as cystoscopy, urodynamics or colonoscopy. This presentation reviews the evidence of the role of the musculoskeletal system in abdominopelvic pain. Components of a pain-focussed musculoskeletal assessment will be presented including recommendations on standardisation as a component of research. We will highlight the importance of robust data collection strategies to improve the evidence base in this under-researched area.