Tension myalgia of the pelvic floor

The clinical picture in and efficacy of physical treatment for pelvic floor myalgia were reviewed. The medical records of patients having a diagnosis of pyriformis syndrome, coccygodynia, levator ani spasm syndrome, proctalgia fugax, or rectal pain who had been seen at the Mayo Clinic and treated in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from 1970 through 1975 were retrieved. Adequate information and follow-up were available for 94 patients. Seventy-eight patients were women and 16 were men, whose ages ranged from 26 to 72 years. All patients had tenderness of the pelvic floor muscles on rectal examination. The most common associated findings were poor posture, deconditioned abdominal muscles, and generalized muscle attachment tenderness. The most effective therapeutic regimen was a combination of rectal diathermy, Thiele's massage, and relaxation exercises. Of the 94 patients, 30 had complete resolution of their symptoms, 19 had marked improvement, 17 had moderate improvement, and 14 had mild improvement. Only 14 patients had no change and 1 patient was worse after treatment.