Physiotherapeutic assessment of chronic pelvic pain syndrome:Development of a standardized physiotherapeutic assessment instrument for interprofessional cooperation in patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome,Physiotherapeutische Befunderhebung bei „chronic pelvic pain syndrome“:Entwicklung eines standardisierten physiotherapeutischen Befundinstruments zur interprofessionellen Zusammenarbeit bei PatientInnen mit chronischem Unterbauchschmerz

BACKGROUND: The chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) can be associated with physiotherapeutic findings. An interprofessional approach is recommended for patients with CPPS; however, no standardized physiotherapeutic assessment and documentation instrument for specific physiotherapeutic assessments exist, which is not only the foundation for physiotherapy but also for interprofessional communication.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was the development of a physiotherapeutic assessment instrument for patients with CPPS and therefore, to create a tool for clinical use, research and interprofessional communication.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on an explorative literature search and an expert consensus, the first version of the instrument was developed as part of a specialized outpatient clinic. This version was applied clinically for 13 months, edited and finalized after another expert consensus.

RESULTS: The developed instrument Physical Therapy Assessment for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (PTA-CPPS) lists external and internal groups of muscles for a systematic assessment of myofascial findings. Functional capacity, breathing movements as well as scars and regions of pain are recorded. A manual for the assessment protocol was developed as accompanying material.

CONCLUSION: The developed instrument provides for the first time a physiotherapeutic assessment tool for patients with CPPS for interprofessional clinical and scientific use.