| Aim: This study attempts to investigate if there is any relationship between dysmenorrhea and sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Design, Setting and Participants: A convenience sample of 36 female students from the Macquarie University Master of Chiropractic program who participated in this study all completed a Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). All subjects had 3 motion palpation procedures performed by each of 3 examiners to ascertain sacroiliac joint function or dysfunction. Gonstead radiographic analysis of each participant’s A-P pelvis film was carried out. Any spinographic pelvic listings determined (= 4 mm) using the Gonstead analysis system were recorded. Main Outcome Measures: A Pearson correlation co-efficient was calculated and used for Student t-tests with a 5% level of significance. Correlations between MDQ and motion palpation, MDQ and Gonstead radiographic analysis, and motion palpation and Gonstead radiographic analysis were made. Results: There is a strong correlation between sacroiliac joint motion palpation dysfunction and dysmenorrhoea as indicated by the MDQ (0.02>p>0.80). The correlation between Gonstead radiographic analysis and dysmenorrhoea as indicated by the MDQ was marginally better (0.70>p>0.60). Conclusion: A strong correlation was established between dysmenorrhoea and sacroiliac joint motion palpation dysfunction. This positive result should encourage colleagues to undertake further research in this area of organ-segment relationship using larger sample groups to improve statistical relevance. Gonstead radiographic analysis demonstrated poor correlation. This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher; full text (print only) by subscription.
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