Perineal Pressure in Equestrians: Application to Pudendal Neuralgia

Abstract

The present study takes place in a broader work aimed at investigating the triggering and aggravating factors of pudendal neuralgia (PN) in female equestrians. PN occurs in the case of damage to the pudendal nerve, the branches of which innervate the anus, rectum, perineum, lower urinary tract and genitalia. Although uncommon, PN often results in chronic perineal pain, with drastic consequences in the everyday life of patients and sometimes leading to suicide. More specifically, the main purpose of this work is to extend current knowledge of the pressure distribution at the perineal level during the practice of horseback riding. The preliminary works described herein focus on the measurement of contact pressure over the whole saddle/rider interface, for a female horse rider in a static stance corresponding to sitting trot. The pressure mapping is compared to a reference case, highlighting major discrepancies in the pressure distribution. Three-dimensional scans performed in parallel will be used in an upcoming numerical simulation which will implement the experimental pressure distribution as boundary conditions. This model will hopefully help gain insight in the possible improvements that may be brought to the practice of horseback riding, so as to decrease the risk of pudendal neuralgia in equestrians.