How Common is Pelvic Pain? 

 

The pelvis is the centre of mass and gravity in the human body, its the area where force often transfers from one side to the other side of the body as we move around and walk.  

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This is why Osteopaths almost always check your pelvis, because of the large effect it has on the body as a whole. 

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The pelvis is also designed to support our bodyweight, therefore situations where we predominantly bear weight through one side of the body over another, can overload one side of the pelvis. 

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Who commonly has pelvic pain or problems? 

 

The pelvis and pelvic ligaments go through major changes during pregnancy and childbirth, therefore pelvic pain during and after pregnancy is very common. ​

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Pelvic pain is common in general, with men, and women who have not been pregnant, it is often a major factor contributing to chronic lower back pain. 

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How to help pelvic pain at home

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• Sleep with a thick pillow between your legs to keep your pelvis in a more neutrally aligned position 

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• Try to avoid crossing your legs habitually for long periods of time 

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• Try to vary which side you carry heavy objects (or children!) on

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• Be aware of bearing your bodyweight on one side of your body habitually over the other, when sitting or standing, try to have equal weight through both feet or sitbones.

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*This advice applies to pelvic pain related to muscles and joints - if you have unexplained pain, it is important to get this assessed by a healthcare professional in the first instance. 

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Can Osteopathy help with pelvic pain?​​

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If it is related to the muscles and joints, which it often is, yes.

 

Here is  what to expect when seeking our help with pelvic pain:

 

• We will screen you to assess if your problem is likely muscle or joint related (and refer you onward if you need further investigation)

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• We thoroughly assess the pelvis, we want to assess if it is in good alignment, if there is familiar pain on any joints or muscles or on any movemnt or action

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• This may involve some further testing of muscle function or observing how you perform functional tasks such as a squat or standing on one leg 

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