PTJ January 2012 and J of Women’s Health PT December 2011

This month’s issue of PTJ has several interesting articles.

“Catastrophizing during and after pregnancy” sheds some light on pain perception surrounding pregnancy and postpartum recovery.  The tool sited (Pain catastrophizing scale) is easily available by a quick Google search http://www.aaompt.org/education/conference10/Break_Out_Sessions/Pain_Catastrophizing_Scale.doc with scoring information http://www.qcomp.com.au/media/29380/pain-catastrophising-scale---scoringpcs[1].pdf  and validation studies  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10984864 .  Centralization of pain is a topic rightfully receiving a great deal of research, discussion and publications.  A recent publication in PTJ  (Psychological Factors in Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women: Relevance and Application of the Fear-Avoidance Model of Pain PHYS THER October 2011 91:1542-1550)  discussed the use of the “Fear avoidance scale” in patients with pelvic pain.  I suspect this tool (Pain catastrophizing scale) could also be used in CPP.  

December Journal of Women’s Health PT has a wonderful article along this same topic “The puzzle of pelvic pain”.  It dives into the topic of pain perception and gives practical suggestions with evidence.  Great article (might be in the March journal club).  Must read.  CSM programing will also support this topic. 

January PTJ also includes a comparison of several tools used in the assessment of pelvic girdle pain.  The Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire came out on top with good psychometrics and discriminant validity.  Caution should be given as one of the authors of this study (Britt Stuge) is one of the researchers of the Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire.  Still it is a very good tool.  The full scale is available in the July 2011 PTJ.  This paper was also reviewed in the August Pelvic Physiotherapy Distance Journal club http://pelvicpt.blogspot.com/2011/08/stuge-b-garrett-jenssen-h-grotle-m.html 

So good to see pelvic PT in the main stream publications on a regular basis.