8th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Pain kicks off in Dubai

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, October 27, 2013: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, the 8th  Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Pain kicked off in Dubai.

H.E. Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority, inaugurated the conference on behalf of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The four-day event is taking place at InterContinental Festival City and will discuss the latest advances in the treatment of low back and pelvic pain. The congress that has attracted 900 participants from 56 countries, is supported by and organised in cooperation with Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, Dubai Health Authority and several national and international physiotherapy and rehabilitation societies.

Al Maidoor said: “Low back pain is a common problem that is triggered due to various factors such as obesity and lack of exercise. This conference is of pertinent importance as it address latest treatment methods to tackle this common and often preventable problem. The conference also discusses the need for active rehabilitation and physiotherapy to help patients lead a normal life.”

Andry Vleeming, Program Chairperson, said that chronic low back and pelvic pain is a serious ailment not only from an economical point of view but also limits the person's mobility as the disease has several disability consequences. “There is a need to raise awareness about ways to prevent spinal and pelvic problems and the most important aspect is rehabilitation and physiotherapy to prevent unnecessary operations. Sometimes surgery is needed but it should be followed by rehabilitation.”

He highlighted the importance of pelvic floor rehabilitation to prevent several long-term problems.

Naima Saleh, Manager of the Midriff Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation and member of the local organising committee of the conference highlighted that there is a need for women to be aware of the importance of pelvic floor muscles.

She said: “During pregnancy and after delivery, the pelvic floor muscles go through several changes and therefore we advocate that women should strengthen their pelvic floor muscles both during and after delivery.”

She said that hospitals such as Latifa have programs that are tailor-made for pregnant women to ensure they take care of their pelvic muscles. “Despite such programs, unfortunately women are not aware of the need to strengthen and take care of their pelvic floor muscles. Weak pelvic floor muscles cause several problems such as stress incontinence and often women find it embarrassing to address this problem. This invariably means they visit physiotherapists when their condition has deteriorated, something that can be avoided in the first place through active muscle engagement.”

She advocated that pregnant women should ask their gynaecologists and healthcare practitioners if they can enroll themselves in a program that teaches them pelvic floor strengthening exercises during and post pregnancy.

The conference will discuss all aspects of pelvic floor and low back rehabilitation.