Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in managing coccyx fracture pain and promoting healing. The goals are to reduce pain, improve mobility, strengthen supporting muscles, and restore function.
- Manual Therapy
Manual therapy involves hands-on techniques performed by a skilled physiotherapist to address joint restrictions, muscle spasms, and soft tissue limitations. For coccyx fractures, this may include:-
- Internal Coccyx Manipulation: This involves the therapist placing a gloved finger into the anus and gently massaging or manipulating the coccyx and surrounding muscles. This can help to reduce dislocations, mobilize stiff joints, and relax tense muscles that attach to the coccyx (like the pelvic floor muscles).
- External Coccyx Mobilization: In some cases, external techniques can be used to gently move the coccyx.
- Soft Tissue Mobilization: Addressing tightness and restrictions in the muscles and fascia of the glutes, pelvic floor, and lower back that can pull on the coccyx or contribute to pain.
- Joint Mobilization: Gentle manipulation of the joints surrounding the coccyx, such as the sacroiliac (SI) joint and lower lumbar spine, to improve their mobility and reduce pain, if indicated.
- Myofascial Release (MFR):
Myofascial Release is a specialized manual therapy technique that targets the fascia, which is the connective tissue that surrounds muscles, organs, and nerves throughout the body. In the context of a coccyx fracture, MFR can be highly beneficial by:-
- Releasing Tension: Applying gentle sustained pressure and stretching to release tension and tightness in the muscles and fascia surrounding the tailbone and pelvic region. This can alleviate pain and discomfort caused by restricted fascial
- Improving Mobility: By releasing fascial restrictions, MFR can improve the flexibility and movement of the affected area.
- Addressing Pelvic Floor Muscles: The pelvic floor muscles attach to the coccyx, and tension in these muscles can significantly contribute to coccyx pain. MFR, often performed internally, can help release these tense muscles.
- Kinesiology Taping
Kinesiology tape is an elastic therapeutic tape that can be applied to the skin to provide support, reduce pain, and improve circulation. For coccyx fracture, kinesiology taping may be used to:
- Provide Support and Stability: Taping can help provide a gentle lift and support to the coccyx area, reducing pressure and promoting better alignment.
- Reduce Pain and Swelling: The tape can create convolutions in the skin, which may lift the skin and reduce interstitial pressure, leading to decreased pain and improved lymphatic drainage (reducing swelling).
- Facilitate Muscle Function: Depending on the application, kinesiology tape can either facilitate or inhibit muscle activity, helping to relax overactive muscles or support weakened ones around the coccyx.
- Improve Proprioception: The tactile input from the tape can enhance body awareness in the injured area, helping with better posture and movement patterns.
- Specific taping techniques for coccyx pain often involve:-
- Applying Y-strips along the erector spinae muscles in the lower back.
- Applying a short strip with tension directly over the point of pain on the coccyx to create a lifting or distracting effect.
Exercises:
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: Focusing on relaxation of the levator ani muscles, which attach to the coccyx.
- Stretching: Gentle stretches for the muscles and ligaments around the lower spine, hips, and glutes (e.g., pelvic tilts, knee-to-chest stretch, piriformis stretch, cat-cow pose, child’s pose, figure 4 stretch, hip flexor lunge).
- Strengthening Exercises: As pain permits, exercises to strengthen the core and gluteal muscles to provide better support to the lower back and pelvis.
