A novel manual therapy approach in chronic coccygodynia: a prospective case series

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Coccygodynia, characterized by pain in the coccyx region, affects a significant portion of individuals with spinal discomfort. However, a universally accepted treatment remains undefined. This prospective case series aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined approach using myofascial physical therapy (MPT) and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) in treating chronic coccygodynia. CASE DESCRIPTION: This study was a prospective case series. Patients referred for chronic coccygodynia to our physiotherapy clinic between September 2022 and December 2023 were assessed. The primary outcome was pain intensity, measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Secondary outcomes included the use of supportive sitting aids and the presence of urinary incontinence. OUTCOMES: Of the 15 participants, predominantly female, 13 (87%) achieved the primary outcome with a significant reduction in pain observed within 5 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes also showed promising improvements. CONCLUSION: The combined approach of MPT and IASTM offers a promising noninvasive and effective treatment for coccygodynia. While further research is needed, these findings provide a foundation for future studies and offer hope for those suffering from this condition.