Sports Medicine Can Help Diagnose Childbirth-Related Injuries

A study shows that a technique usually reserved for sports medicine can be used to diagnose childbirth-related injuries like pelvic injuries. 

According to researchers, using MRI to diagnose these injuries makes sense as childbirth is as traumatic as with other sports. 

Pelvic Injuries After Childbirth

Childbirth seems impossible considering the size of the baby and the pelvis. But it's made possible with the ability of the baby's head and the mom's pelvis to shift their sizes. The fetus' cranial bones usually overlap to make it smaller while the pelvic inlet and outlet are made larger to allow the baby to pass through. 

In a normal childbirth, this goes smoothly. However, if pelvic bones don't move normally than they should, that's when the problem starts to happen.

A lot of post-partum women experience the long-term effects of the abnormal tensions in their ischial bones. These effects can lead to low back and hip pain, prolapse of the pelvic organs, weakness of the pelvic floor muscle, and painful intercourse. 

There are different types of pelvic injuries a woman may have after childbirth. Some of these injuries include separated pubic symphysis and fractured coccyx.

Separation of Pubic Symphysis

Pubic symphysis refers to the narrow section of cartilage and ligament that connects the left and right bones of the pelvic girdle. It can temporarily get separated after childbirth. While this is not a serious condition, it cause great pain to a woman. 

Many women who suffer from separated pubic symphysis can feel the pain for 2 months after birth. This condition can heal on its own for about 3 to 8 months.

Fractured Coccyx

Another common pelvic injury that occurs childbirth is fractured coccyx. It happens as a result of the pressure of the baby's head on the coccyx. Just like separated pubic symphysis, fractured coccyx can also cause a great deal of pain. It takes months for the pain to subside. The pain can be managed with the help of physical therapy, medications, and ice. 

Use of MRI for Diagnosing Pelvic Injuries

MRI is commonly used in sports medicine to diagnose sports-related injuries. What the study found is that post-partum women who can sense that there's something wrong but can't point out exactly what it is can benefit from using MRI.

The images in the study shows that a quarter of these women suffer from fractures that are similar to sports-related injuries. About 41% of these women suffer from pelvic muscle rips; some have suffered from complete detachment of the muscle from the pubic bone. 

While the study shows the application of MRI for diagnosing childbirth-related injuries, it doesn't state that every woman who have given birth should undergo MRI or should not do Kegel exercise. It implies that there's no such thing as a single cure for a particular case. It also encourages women to consult a specialist the moment they sense that there's something wrong with them.