David Wise

Painful Myofascial Trigger Points and Pain Sites in Men With Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

PURPOSE A combination of manual physiotherapy and specific relaxation training effectively treats patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. However, little information exists on myofascial trigger points and specific chronic pelvic pain symptoms. We documented relationships between trigger point sites and pain symptoms in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS We randomly selected a cohort of 72 men who underwent treatment with physiotherapy and relaxation training from 2005 to 2008. Patients self-reported up to 7 pelvic pain sites before treatment and whether palpation of internal and external muscle trigger points reproduced the pain. Fishers exact test was used to compare palpation responses, ie referral pain, stratified by reported pain site. RESULTS Pain sensation at each anatomical site was reproduced by palpating at least 2 of 10 designated trigger points. Furthermore, 5 of 7 painful sites could be reproduced at least 50% of the time (p <0.05). The most prevalent pain sites were the penis in 90.3% of men, the perineum in 77.8% and the rectum in 70.8%. Puborectalis/pubococcygeus and rectus abdominis trigger points reproduced penile pain more than 75% of the time (p <0.01). External oblique muscle palpation elicited suprapubic, testicular and groin pain in at least 80% of the patients at the respective pain sites (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS This report shows relationships between myofascial trigger points and reported painful sites in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Identifying the site of clusters of trigger points inside and outside the pelvic floor may assist in understanding the role of muscles in this disorder and provide focused therapeutic approaches.

6-Day Intensive Treatment Protocol for Refractory Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Using Myofascial Release and Paradoxical Relaxation Training

PURPOSE Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome continues to elude conventional therapy. Evidence supports the concept that phenotypes of pelvic muscular tenderness and psychosocial distress respond to myofascial trigger point release and specific relaxation training. This case series reports long-term outcomes of a 6-day intensive combination of such therapies in refractory cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 200 men with pain for a median of 4.8 years referred themselves to Stanford University Urology for participation in an established protocol. Daily 3 to 5-hour sessions including intrapelvic/extrapelvic physiotherapy, self-treatment training and paradoxical relaxation training provided a solid introduction to facilitate self-management. Subjects answered baseline and followup questionnaires at variable intervals after initiation of therapy including the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, global response assessment and a psychological query. RESULTS We followed 116 men for a median of 6 months. Baseline total symptom index was 26 out of a maximum 43 points. Scores decreased by 30% (p <0.001) at followup with 60% of subjects demonstrating a 6-point or greater decrease (range 6 to 30). Domains of pain, urinary dysfunction and quality of life showed significant improvement (p <0.001). Global response assessment revealed that 82% of subjects reported improvement (59% marked to moderate, 23% slight). CONCLUSIONS Men with chronic pelvic pain refractory to traditional treatment benefit from intensive myofascial trigger point therapy and concomitant paradoxical relaxation training. Education in techniques for self-administered trigger point release and continued pelvic muscle relaxation help patients reduce pain and dysfunction. Refinement of clinical phenotyping and selection of patients with pelvic muscle tenderness should enhance the success rate with this treatment modality.

Safety and effectiveness of an internal pelvic myofascial trigger point wand for urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

ObjectivesPelvic 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 patients self-treatment of internal myofascial trigger points in the pelvic floor and its effect in reducing pelvic muscle tenderness. MethodsA 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. ResultsOne 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 to10, 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. ConclusionsA multimodal protocol using an internal pelvic therapeutic wand seems to be a safe, viable treatment option in select refractory patients with pelvic pain.

Chronic Prostatitis and/or Chronic Pelvic Pain as a Psychoneuromuscular Disorder—A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE To evaluate effectiveness of physical therapy, biofeedback, and/or cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP and/or CPPS). This symptom complex has resisted resolution from conventional urologic treatment of the prostate, which includes antibiotics, alpha-blockers, and analgesics. Beginning in 1995, a new paradigm was introduced viewing CP and/or CPPS as a psychoneuromuscular disorder driven by protective pelvic floor guarding and psychosocial stress. METHODS A literature search (PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochran Library) was conducted from inception through December 2017 using key words related to CP and/or CPPS (eg, prostatitis and pelvic pain) with physical therapy (eg, myofascial trigger point release) and/or biofeedback or cognitive behavioral treatment. Studies were required to include pre- and post-treatment with the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (CPSI) scores. RESULTS Eight studies inclusive of 280 patients met primary inclusion criteria. Study sample sizes ranged from 8 to 116 men (mean = 35); treatment duration ranged from 8 to 26 weeks (mean = 14). Pretreatment mean CPSI scores ranged from 21.7 to 33.5. The nonstandardized weighted mean reduction of CPSI score from baseline was 8.8 points; 95% confidence interval (7.5, 11.1); P <.001. The I2 statistic = 18.5% indicating little heterogeneity between studies. A sensitivity analysis including an additional multimodal intervention study of with 100 patients produced similar findings. CONCLUSION Conventional medical treatment often fails to resolve CP and/or CPPS. A 6-point reduction in CPSI score is considered a clinically meaningful improvement of symptoms. This meta-analysis shows that treating CP and/or CPPS as a psychoneuromuscular disorder can significantly exceed this clinical threshold.