Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40420056›Full record

SynthesisBMC musculoskeletal disorders2025

Physiotherapy approaches for coccydynia: evaluating effectiveness and clinical outcomes.

Maria Blanco-Diaz, Laura Ruiz Palacios, Maria Del Rosario Martinez-Cerón, Borja Perez-Dominguez, Esther Diaz-Mohedo

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Impact of coccydynia on quality of life, function, and neuromuscular control in women with third trimester pelvic girdle pain: a cross-sectional study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Maria Blanco-DiazFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, 33006, Spain.
Laura Ruiz PalaciosDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus Teatinos, Malaga, 28078, Spain.
Maria Del Rosario Martinez-CerónDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus Teatinos, Malaga, 28078, Spain.
Borja Perez-DominguezExercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, 46010, Spain. f.borja.perez@uv.es.
Esther Diaz-MohedoDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus Teatinos, Malaga, 28078, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCoccydynia, or tailbone pain, significantly impairs patients' quality of life, affecting daily activities such as sitting and transitioning between positions. It can arise from trauma, childbirth, repetitive strain, or idiopathic causes. Although conservative treatments like physiotherapy are widely employed, their clinical effectiveness remains uncertain due to inconsistent methodologies and varied outcomes reported in the literature.

objectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions, in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes in patients with coccydynia.

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, PEDro, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1963 and 2024. The methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Inclusion criteria focused on studies evaluating conservative physiotherapy interventions in patients with coccydynia.

resultsNine RCTs comprising 532 participants were included. The Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment indicated a moderate to high risk in several domains, particularly in allocation concealment and blinding. ESWT demonstrated significant reductions in pain and improvements in functional outcomes, with benefits sustained up to six months in some cases. Manual therapy was particularly effective in recent-onset coccydynia, although its efficacy diminished over time. kinesiotaping (KT) improved pain perception but showed limited impact on disability measures. Six studies were rated as moderate to high quality (PEDro scores 6-7), while three were low quality (scores ≤ 4). Despite promising results, heterogeneity in interventions, small sample sizes, and short follow-up periods limited definitive conclusions.

conclusionPhysiotherapy interventions, particularly ESWT, are promising conservative treatment options for coccydynia. However, methodological variability and limited long-term follow-up hinder definitive conclusions. Future research should prioritize standardized protocols, larger sample sizes, and extended follow-up to strengthen the evidence base for clinical recommendations.

Indexed as

CoccyxLow Back PainPhysical Therapy ModalitiesHumansQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeCoccydyniaExtracorporeal shock wave therapyManual therapyPhysical therapy modalitiesSystematic reviewTape therapy

Identifiers

PMID40420056
PMCPMC12105126

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.