Levator Ani Syndrome

What is Levator Ani Syndrome?

The pain of levator ani syndrome is caused by a spasm in the levator ani muscle.

Pain may radiate to the hips, tailbone, or other areas such as clitoris, pelvis, testicles, and lower abdomen. This pain is usually unrelated to a bowel movement, and there appears to be no structural abnormalities or underlying conditions responsible for the symptoms.

The levator ani muscle consists of:

• Puborectalis
• Pubococcygeus
• Iliococcygeus

Spasm in the Puborectalis (one part of the Levator ani muscle) may cause chronic constipation, hemorrhoids (internal/external), and pain. Spasm in the Pubococcygeus/Iliococcygeus cause coccyx/tailbone pain that gets worse after movement or sitting.

The symptoms of levator ani syndrome include pain high in the rectum or urethra (especially in females) that may be:
• irregular and spontaneous
• a sense of pressure in the rectum
• felt when sitting
• relieved when standing or lying down
• unrelated to bowel movements
• severe enough to interrupt sleep

What's The Next Step?

At Pelvic Health Physical Therapy, our certified physical therapists will provide you with a thorough evaluation to determine what the best treatment plan will be for you. We understand how inhibiting pain and stiffness can be, and we want to help get you back to comfortably living your life. We'll help lift all of your physical stresses away!

Please email receptionmadison@pelvichealthnj.com to book an appointment, or call our office at 908-443-9880.