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Women with pelvic floor complaints experience restrictions and distress in their daily, social, and sexual functioning, and their intimate relationships. We interviewed forty-eight women to unravel differences between women receiving and not receiving pelvic physical therapy and between pregnant, parous, and nulliparous women in preparation for theory development. We analyzed data in a mixed-method design using NVivo and Leximancer. sexual dysfunction, relationship dynamics, the nature and severity of restrictions and distress, and coping strategies appear to vary between women receiving and not receiving therapy. specific combinations of restrictions and distress are present in pregnant, parous, and nulliparous women, and might influence women’s decision to seek help.

Aim To evaluate low back pain (LBP) incidence and impact throughout pregnancy in terms of women’s well-being and delivery outcomes. Material and methods Cross-sectional prospective study conducted on singleton pregnancies at ≥37th gestational age admitted for delivery. Localization of LBP, intensity and frequency as well as derived functional disability status were assessed with a self-reported questionnaire. Main delivery outcomes including mode of delivery, and maternal or neonatal complications were recorded. Results A total of 229 women participated in the study. LBP prevalence amounted to 55.9%, with the pain already present before pregnancy in 14.0% of the cases. The pain was mostly localized in the lower back (40.6%), symphysis (23.3%), and coccyx (20.5%). Both the frequency and intensity of pain gradually increased significantly during pregnancy, reaching 20 days/month (IQR=10–30) and 6/10 points (IQR=5–8) on a visual analog scale in the 3rd trimester (p Conclusions LBP is a common issue in pregnant women, accounting for increasing morbidity and invalidity, and leading to an increased cesarean section risk during labor.

Objective. To develop a conceptual model of patho- and sanogene­sis of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) osteoarthritis on base of the known data about the SIJ, the results of our own biomechanical studies of this joint, its ligaments and stabilizing muscles by finite element modelling, data of clinical verification of these results. Methods. The object of the model is the SIJ as a link, which connects thespine and pelvis. The proposed conceptual model is based on the M.Panjabi hypothesis of chronic lumbar pain in the case of partial dama­ge to ligaments, which leads to muscle dysfunction. Results. Anew conceptual model of SIJ osteoarthritis was developed. In this model we tried to take into account the limitations of the existing SIJ stability hypotheses and models of the appearance ofthepelvic girdle pain, SIJ dysfunction and SIJ arthrosis. Themodel is based on theresults of our own research. It was proved, that patients with SIJ osteoarthritis have an asymmetry of the width ofthejoint slits, theinclination of the sacrum and pelvis, sacral rotation, hyperlordosis in the LV–SI segment. These factors lead toa shift ofthehorizontal axis of sacral rotational mobility relative tothe pelvic bones. This horizontal axis shift leads to the instabili­ty oftheSIJ on one side of the joint, and to the functional block on another side. Theresults of these functional changes were damage ofthe SIJ ligaments-stabilizers, dysfunction of the SIJ muscles-stabilizers, degenerative changes ofSIJ elements and pain. The deve­loped model allows toexplain the distortion of muscular response pattern in patients with improper SIJ biomechanics in conditions ofSIJ osteoarthritis. The increase of the SIJ biomechanics changes enlarges thethemuscle response pattern distortion. Conclusions. The developed conceptual model explains many clinical manifestations oftheSIJ osteoarthritis and will help to understand better themechanics ofthepelvic girdle pain in such conditions, will improve theresults ofdiagnosis and treatment., Мета. На підставі відомих уявлень про крижово-клубовий суглоб (ККС), результатів власних біомеханічних досліджень методом скінченних елементів особливостей цього суглоба, його зв’язок і м’язів-стабілізаторів, їхньої клінічної верифікації розробити концептуальну модель пато- ісаногенезу артрозу ККС. Методи. Об’єктом моделювання була система ККС як ланка, що з’єднує хребет ітаз. За основу передбачуваної концептуальної моделі взято модель М. Panjabi виникнення хронічного поперекового болю в разі часткового ушкодження зв’язок, що призводить до порушення функції м’язів. Результати. Розроблено нову концептуальну модель розвитку артрозу ККС, в якій ми намагалися врахувати обмеження наявних моделей стабільності ККС і появу хребтово-тазового болю, виникнення дисфункції та розвитку артрозу ККС. Модель побудована за результатами власних досліджень. Доведено, що у хворих на артроз ККС є асиметрія ширини суглобових щілин, нахил крижів і таза, ротація крижів, гіперлордоз ухребтовому руховому сегменті LV–SІ. Це призводить до зсуву горизонтальної осі ротаційної рухомості крижів щодо тазових кісток і, відповідно, виникнення, з одного боку, нестабільності ККС, а з іншого, — функціонального блока. Унаслідок цього виникають ушкодження зв’язок-стабілізаторів ККС, біль іпорушення функції м’язів-стабілізаторів суглоба і дегенеративні зміні в його елементах. Розроблена модель дає змогу пояснити зміну патерна м’язової відповіді в пацієнтів із порушенням біомеханіки ККС за умов артрозу. Чим більше змінюється біомеханіка ККС, тим більше спотворюється патерн м’язової відповіді. Висновки. Розроблена концептуальна модель пояснює багато клінічних проявів артрозу ККС і допоможе кращому розумінню механізму виникнення хребтово-тазового болю за таких умов, дозволить поліпшити результати діагностики та лікування.

Introduction: Thoracic myelopathy is relatively uncommon because few degenerative changes occur as a result of the restricted range of motion surrounding the rib cage. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 300 consecutive surgical cases of thoracic disorders with myelopathy treated in our department from 2000 to 2015. Girdle pain, back pain, low back pain, leg numbness, leg pain, gait disturbance, leg paresis, and bowel bladder disturbance as initial and preoperative symptoms; patellar tendon reflex, ankle tendon reflex, and ankle clonus as preoperative neurologic findings; MRI and CT findings; and surgical procedure, intraoperative findings, and postoperative recovery were investigated. Results: The disease distribution included ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) (n = 48), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) (n = 30), OPLL with OLF (n = 27), intradural extramedullary tumor (n = 98), intramedullary spinal cord tumor (n = 64), vertebral tumor (n = 17), spinal cord herniation (n = 7), vertebral fracture (n = 4), and thoracic disk herniation (n = 5). There were notable associations of gait disturbance with OPLL and OPLL + OLF; back pain at initial diagnosis with disease at upper levels; and low back pain with disease at a lower level. Conclusion: These findings suggest that patients with gait disturbance, back pain, and low back pain on physical examination may have thoracic disease that results in myelopathy.

The possibility that polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) can be diagnosed when both ESR and CRP are normal at the time of diagnosis and before therapy with glucocorticoids, has been often discussed in the literature. We present a case report of a 100-year-old Caucasian man referred to our outpatient clinic, complaining of chronic pain in the shoulder and hip girdle associated with normal values of both ESR (21 mm/1st hour) and CRP (4 mg/dL). In the previous four months, several anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers associated with physiotherapy treatments gave no significant improvement in pain and self-care. After an ultrasound (US) and an 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography associated with total body computed tomography (18-FDG PET/CT) examination, PMR was diagnosed and he started therapy with 17.5 mg prednisone, obtaining a fast improvement in pain and self-care. After 10 months of tapering, he stopped prednisone without relapse. During a 3-year follow-up, no alternative diagnosis was done. When a patient complains of chronic bilateral shoulder and hip girdle pain associated with normal inflammatory indices, it is reasonable to think in the first instance that this person is not suffering from PMR. Moreover, the possibility that PMR may onset in a centenarian person, is exceptional. In our patient, when we piece the puzzle together, the diagnosis of PMR was the most possible one.

Evaluation of an athlete's report of "hip pain" is challenging. Many conditions involving the pelvic girdle can present with overlapping pain distributions, and athletes often may have coexisting disorders. Appropriate evaluation requires thorough, systematic consideration of intra-articular hip disease, extra-articular local causes of hip pain, and referred pain from other musculoskeletal or even visceral sources. Although our understanding of intra-articular hip disorders has been greatly enhanced in recent decades through advances in hip arthroscopy, gaps still exist in our understanding of appropriate treatment, including effective nonsurgical protocols and when to consider surgical intervention. For instance, we have a better understanding of hip dysfunction related to structural changes that occur prior to the onset of arthritis, but we are also learning that correction of the structural changes does not always guarantee a correction of dysfunction and pain. Furthermore, athletes need instruction and guidance in retraining appropriate movement patterns after a surgical intervention. Risk stratification regarding which athletes need surgical intervention and what their needs are after specific surgical procedures remain undefined. In this review we will describe the differential diagnosis of hip and pelvic girdle pain in the athlete and then discuss how to use a history, physical examination, and appropriate imaging and diagnostic injections to arrive at a proper diagnosis. Lastly, a brief discussion is included of key concepts and controversies involved in treating some of the most common hip disorders experienced by athletes.

Erasmus syndrome is defined as the association of silica exposure and subsequent development of systemic sclerosis. The limited number of cases reported in the literature mainly involves miners and only sporadically other professionals. We describe a case of Erasmus syndrome in a marble worker. A 68 year old man came to our observation complaining pelvic and scapular girdle pain, evening fever, intense weakness and emaciation for about 1 month. He also reported to have had Raynaud’s phenomenon in his hands for the last 13 years. Also, his occupational history revealed a chronic exposure to silica dust. The patient presented pain in his shoulders and hips, moderate skin thickening and sclerosis in his hands and fingers extending proximally to his wrists. The diagnosis of systemic sclerosis was determined according to his clinical and medical history, the positivity of anti-Scl 70 antibodies, the nailfold capillaroscopy suggestive of an active scleroderma pattern and the detection of a mild restrictive pulmonary syndrome. The evaluation of the organbased complications excluded a gastroenterological and cardiovascular involvement, while the chest computed tomography (CT) detected multiple small nodules with a mantle distribution and enlarged lymph nodes with no signs of interstitial lung disease and fibrosis. Additional tests (positron emission tomography-CT, flexible bronchoscopy and broncho-alveolar lavage) excluded infectious diseases and cancer. However, given the pulmonary involvement, we performed a histological examination of the parenchyma and lymph nodes, which revealed a picture of pneumoconiosis. In the end, the occupational history and the findings from the diagnostic procedures led to the diagnosis of pulmonary silicosis. The precise definition of the pulmonary involvement was essential to the therapeutic approach to this patient.

Background Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder of the elderly characterized by girdle pain and stiffness, constitutional symptoms and elevation of inflammatory indexes. Glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is effective but often prolonged, with associated side effects. Data on risk factors of poor prognosis are scanty: in particular it is not known if the pattern of clinical presentation can influence PMR outcome. Objectives To test the hypothesis that clinical presentation of PMR can predict its outcome. Methods 394 patients (251 women, median age 73 yrs, range 47–92 yrs) with PMR diagnosed according to Bird9s criteria, visited between 1990 and 2014 by the same clinician were studied. Median follow up was 13.8 months (range 1–250 months). Clinical features recorded at disease presentation included involvement of: i) the shoulder girdle; ii) the pelvic girdle; iii) the column; vi) two or more of the previous locations; v) with giant cell arteritis (GCA); or vi) with acute onset, defined as completion of full symptoms and signs in ≤72h. PMR outcome was evaluated by considering: i) duration of follow-up; ii) appearance of peripheral arthritis; iii) appearance of GCA; iv) number of exacerbations/ relapses; v) cumulative dosage of GC; vi) use of methotrexate (MTX); and vii) death. Results At multivariate analysis, acute onset predicted a longer follow-up duration (p=0.007) and death (p=0.037); involvement of the spine predicted longer follow up duration (p=0.001) and use of MTX (p=0.018); presentation at the pelvic girdle predicted a high number of exacerbations/relapses (p=0.034) and association therapy with MTX (p=0.009); onset in multiple locations predicted a high number of exacerbations/relapses (p=0.03); presentation with GCA predicted a higher cumulative dosage of GC (p=0.0001) and use of MTX (p=0.027). Conclusions Apart from the obvious association between concomitant GCA and negative prognosis of PMR, other clinical characteristics at disease onset influence outcome. In particular, the initial presentation with multiple locations, including spine and pelvic girdle, resulted in longer follow-up, more relapses, and need of MTX treatment, whereas the classic one with only shoulder girdle involvement was associated with a milder disease. An acute onset was also a negative prognostic factor. Clinicians should consider the pattern of disease presentation when evaluating the burden of PMR. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder of the elderly characterized by girdle pain and stiffness, constitutional symptoms and elevation of inflammatory indexes. In its classical form, the shoulder girdle is affected, associated or not with pelvic and spinal pain. The latter two locations can occasionally precede shoulder involvement. It is not known if the pattern of clinical presentation is related to disease severity at onset. Objectives In this study, disease severity of PMR has been correlated with clinical characteristics at presentation. Methods 394 patients (251 women, median age 73 yrs, range 47–92 yrs) with PMR diagnosed according to Bird9s criteria, visited between 1990 and 2014 by the same clinician were studied. Clinical features recorded at disease presentation included initial involvement of: i) the shoulder girdle; ii) the pelvic girdle; iii) the column; iv) two or more of the previous locations; v) presence of giant cell arteritis (GCA); vi) acute onset, defined as completion of full symptoms and signs in ≤72h; or vii) peripheral arthritis. Disease severity of PMR was evaluated by considering: i) weight loss; ii) fever; iii) morning stiffness (MS); iv) ESR; v) CRP; and vi) initial dose of prednisone. Results Acute onset and classical involvement of the shoulder girdle were not associated with our indicators of PMR severity. By contrast, onset in the pelvic girdle (p=0.002), simultaneous onset in multiple locations (p=0.006), peripheral arthritis (p=0.045) and GCA (p=0.0004) were associated with a higher initial dose of prednisone; multiple locations onset correlated also with MS (p=0.044). Conclusions The presentation with multiple locations, including column and pelvic girdle, peripheral arthritis, and GCA resulted in a more severe onset at least in the perception of the clinician who used a higher initial dose of prednisone. Clinicians should consider the pattern of disease presentation when evaluating the burden of PMR. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disease of the elderly characterized by the nonspecific findings of girdle pain and stiffness and constitutional symptoms: as a result its differential diagnosis ranges from rheumatic, to infective and neoplastic diseases. PMR patients also often show peripheral arthritis, which fact further complicates the diagnosis. The main differential diagnosis in patients with suspected PMR is EORA, which also may present with girdle pain and raised inflammation. Both conditions also share a common genetic background and patients with cured PMR can relapse as EORA. Many studies have addressed clinical and laboratory discriminating clues, with only peripheral arthritis being effective. However, peripheral arthritis, being present in up to 40% of PMR patients, has a poor predictive value. In a recent study, US clues for the diagnosis of PMR were the presence of subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis, low frequency of knee menisci chondrocalcinosis and low power Doppler scores at the wrist. Conversely, effusion and synovitis of wrist, metacarpophalangeal joints, metatarsophalangeal joints, and tendinous calcaneal calcifications or Achilles enthesitis were more frequent in patients with diagnoses other than PMR. In a study with 18F-FDG positron emission/computed tomography (PET/CT), PMR patients showed higher uptake of the ischiatic, trochanteric and interspinous bursae compared to EORA patients. Shoulders were not evaluated because of their anatomical complexity and the difficulty of precisely localizing inflammation. In the clinic, follow-up over time is often the only way to help differential diagnosis: if glucocorticoid treatment is effective despite its tapering and peripheral arthritis does not become chronic, the diagnosis of PMR is likely to be correct. Disclosure of Interest None declared