SPORTS INJURIES
Pubic Symphysis Pain
Pain of the pubic symphysis area is often overlooked and blamed
on the more "glamorous," abdominal muscles and adductor muscles
which attach in this area. When there is pain attributable
to this area, the diagnosis is called "abdominal muscle pull" or "adductor
tendonitis."
Muscles have a massive blood supply and heal extremely quickly. Rarely are they
the cause of pain that lasts more than a few days. An athlete who continues to
complain of pain in the groin area requires examination of other structures and
other diagnoses should be considered.
It is rare that an athlete with this complaint reports that the pubic symphysis
has been previously examined. Most athletic trainers and orthopedists do not
ever consider this structure as a source of pain-
If the area is examined, the diagnosis of osteitis pubis is commonly made, which
means that the pubis is inflamed. Once this diagnosis is made, ice, anti-inflammatories,
and anything else that can be thrown to the athlete to decrease the inflammation
is given. Because the body is trying to heal the pubic symphysis area by inflammation
this is exactly the opposite of what is needed.
Osteitis pubis is felt to be an overuse injury associated with excessive kicking,
running, gymnastics, or abdominal muscle contractions, for example, when an athlete
does too many sit-ups. This is an erroneous notion. Inflammation of the pubis
is a sign that the pubic symphysis area is trying to heal something. On bone
scan there is evidence of increased circulation to the area and on x-ray there
is often sclerosis or an overgrowth of bone. On "flamingo" views, the x-ray shows
some instability in the area, and this is the explanation for the problem. Generally,
inflammation in a joint is a sign that the joint is becoming unstable. The ligaments
or capsule are no longer able to stabilize the joint so the area becomes inflamed
to overgrow bone to stabilize it. The treatment is not to stop the inflammation,
but to promote it. A better diagnosis in this case is not osteitis pubis, but
pubic symphysis diathesis. This diagnosis indicates that the pubic symphysis
area is loose. Unfortunately, milder degrees of this condition are not picked
up even in "flamingo" x-ray views. One side of the pubic symphysis is generally
higher than the other side on physical examination of people with this condition.
The person also experiences exquisite tenderness in the pubic symphysis area.
The pubic symphysis joint may be stressed whenever the leg is pulled out from
underneath a person, as can occur during a hit or a tackle. Falling, tripping,
or slipping can also cause this. Pubic symphysis injuries are a relatively frequent
event in sports. Swimmers who do the breast stroke often suffer groin pain from
a pubic symphysis injury. Prolotherapy for pubic symphysis diathesis entails
injections into the fibro-osseous junction of the superior pubic symphysis ligament
and injections into the pubic symphysis itself. Prolotherapy is extremely effective
in strengthening the pubic symphysis and relieving chronic groin pain in this
area.
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