Pubalgia or pubic pain syndrome is a condition unfortunately common among athletes, particularly those involved in sports with rapid and repetitive movements, such as soccer, basketball, rugby, and track and field.
Pubalgia manifests as a sensation of pain in the pubic region, but it has likely been latent and asymptomatic for extended periods. It can be classified as ascending or descending, depending on the direction of pain radiation.
Due to the difficulty in diagnosing it before the acute and painful phase, I believe that nuclear medicine is fundamental for the diagnosis and management of pubalgia. Techniques such as bone scintigraphy and nuclear magnetic resonance should be used to identify bone and soft tissue injuries that are not visible with other common diagnostic methods. Bone scintigraphy can detect areas of abnormal bone activity indicative of stress fractures or early inflammatory conditions.
Prevention is essential because pubalgia can significantly compromise an athlete’s competitive season.
The Induced and Controlled Thermal Shock Colossus METHOD is a patented technique resulting from years of study and experimentation, involving alternating athlete work in saline pools at designated hot and cold temperatures with specific intervals. The circulatory and neuromuscular stimulation creates a stronger athlete, less prone to muscle and joint injury in the preventive phase, and reduces pain in the rehabilitation phase. This methodology significantly improves recovery times by reducing perceived pain.
The preventive program includes a biomechanical analysis with a static and dynamic baropodometric exam to identify muscle imbalances and misalignments that may predispose the athlete to pubalgia. The training plan will focus on a series of exercises targeting the strengthening of the abdominal, adductor, and pelvic floor muscles. Exercises such as static and dynamic planks, bridge variations, and advanced Colossus METHOD stretching are essential for reducing muscle tension and improving flexibility.
The treatment of pubalgia can thus be divided into three phases: preventive, rehabilitative, and re-athletization. Each phase has specific techniques and strategies aimed at reducing pain, improving functionality, and preventing relapses. After the preventive phase, we move on to rehabilitation, which includes manual therapy, Tecar therapy, CM-induced and controlled thermal shock, and ultrasound therapy.
A program of targeted exercises is necessary to improve core and pelvic stability, incorporating balance exercises on unstable surfaces such as proprioceptive boards and rocking platforms. Myofascial release manual techniques help relieve muscle tension and improve tissue mobility.
Re-athletization is the phase leading up to competitive recovery. A gradual increase in workload is required with more intense training.
The program includes specific exercises to improve muscular strength and endurance, adapted to the needs of the sport practiced. Squats and progressive timed deadlifts are performed without rest phases to maintain constant muscle temperature.
The relapse prevention program involves the skillful use of advanced kinesio taping through the Colossus METHOD combined with advanced CMS stretching.
The athlete will be periodically monitored to assess progress and make any necessary adjustments to the rehabilitation and training program to prevent highly troublesome relapses.
Managing pubalgia in athletes requires a highly technical approach with a Colossus METHOD plan for prevention, rehabilitation, and re-athletization. The integration of advanced methodologies such as CM-induced and controlled thermal shock and nuclear medicine for accurate and timely diagnosis is essential to ensuring complete recovery and preventing painful relapses.
Prof. Ph.D Francesco Calarco