# Musculoskeletal and Pelvic Floor Health in Female Chronic Overlapping Pelvic Pain Conditions (The MSK-PELVIC Study)

> **NIH NIH R21** · LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO · 2023 · $192,500

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) may affect up to a quarter of all women. Traditionally, CPP has been thought to be
driven by visceral pain mechanisms such as Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome (IC/PBS), Irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS) and endometriosis. It is also established that these visceral pain conditions overlap with
vulvodynia, fibromyalgia, depression, and anxiety. More recently, underlying pelvic floor myofascial (PFMP)
and dyssynergia have been identified as additional overlapping CPP conditions. Prior work suggests PFMP
may be a viscera-somatic response, however, PFMP as a compensatory consequence of other regional
musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions has also been proposed. Indeed, across their lifespan, women face higher
risks than men for a plethora of MSK injuries and chronic MSK conditions, including an increased prevalence
of sports-related injuries, joint hypermobility, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritic conditions (post-menopause), and
osteoporosis/osteoporosis-associated fractures. These elevated risks are thought to be due to the unique
anatomic (structural), biomechanical, and hormonal factors that can be attributed to the physiologic process of
pregnancy and aging. The current application aims to address the significant knowledge gap regarding the
limited understanding of the neuromuscular function of the PFM in CPP as well as the role of overlapping MSK
conditions and MSK health that may be influencing PFM response. The short-term goal is to examine PFM
biomechanics by identifying the most precise muscle measures in women with CPP of various overlapping
diagnoses compared to asymptomatic controls, along with assessing overall MSK health/physical activity. The
long-term goal is to determine MSK pelvic pain mechanisms that will inform clinically relevant classification,
develop evidence-based non-pharmacologic (physical therapy/exercise) treatments for women with CPP, and
advance research tools in the area of PFM function and CPP as it relates to overall MSK health. Our
innovative strategy combines neuromuscular measures using novel devices and validated measures in
evaluating CPP, MSK health, and physical activity. Our central hypothesis is that women with CPP will
demonstrate quantifiable PFM abnormalities and clinical MSK characteristics that differ from asymptomatic
controls. The results from this study will have a significant public health impact with contributions of rigorous
objective and comprehensive PFM and MSK methods, which will be suitable for future NIH clinical research
networks/trials, to evaluate and assess the MSK contribution and potential treatment outcomes in women with
CPP.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10705656
- **Project number:** 5R21HD105115-02
- **Recipient organization:** LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Colleen Marie Fitzgerald
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $192,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-16 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10705656

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10705656, Musculoskeletal and Pelvic Floor Health in Female Chronic Overlapping Pelvic Pain Conditions (The MSK-PELVIC Study) (5R21HD105115-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10705656. Licensed CC0.

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