Publications by authors named "Brittany Vandyken"
Background: Tenderness on palpation of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) is a clinical assessment tool used alongside other tests to identify PFM involvement in pelvic complaints including pelvic pain. Although reliability of PFM tenderness has been determined, validity has yet to be established.
Objectives: To assess convergent validity of PFM tenderness on digital palpation with the presence of central pain mechanism, as determined by a score of greater than 40 on the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI).
Background: There is evidence to suggest that a large proportion of individuals seeking care for lumbopelvic pain also have pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (PFMD). Because the majority of physical therapists do not have the requisite training to adequately assess pelvic floor musculature, determining predictors of PFMD could be clinically useful.
Objective: The objective was to establish a combination of factors (self-report and physical) predictive of PFMD in women with lumbopelvic pain.
Background: The prevalence, cost and disability associated with lumbopelvic pain continues to rise despite the range of available therapeutic interventions, indicating a deficiency in current approaches. A literature base highlighting a correlation between lumbopelvic pain and pelvic floor function is developing; however, the features that characterize this correlation have yet to be fully established.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pelvic floor muscle function among women with lumbopelvic pain.