Coccygodynia

Coccydynia (also known as coccygodynia) is pain in the coccyx, the small bone at the bottom of your spine. This condition causes pain when you sit and when you change positions. It makes work, driving, and daily activities uncomfortable. Rest assured: coccydynia responds well to treatment. More than 90% of cases improve with conservative treatment. Our physical therapists specializing in pelvic health offer effective treatments that combine manual therapy, pelvic floor exercises, and lifestyle changes. Although coccydynia is specific to the tailbone, it is part of the broader range of back pain conditions we treat.

What is Coccydynia and Where Does It Hurt?

Coccydynia is pain in the tailbone, the small triangular bone at the very bottom of your spine. The pain is located precisely at the tip of the tailbone. You can pinpoint it with a single finger.

The coccyx is located just below the sacrum, a bone formed by 3 to 5 fused vertebrae. The pelvic floor muscles attach to this bone, which explains the connection between the two. Sitting, especially while leaning back, increases the pressure on the coccyx, which can worsen the pain.

Women experience coccydynia about five times more often than men. Their pelvis has a different shape, and childbirth can injure the tailbone. The female tailbone also moves more and is positioned further backward, making it more vulnerable.

Coccydynia pain is different from other types of back pain. Sacroiliac pain is located higher up and to the side. Lower back problems are situated above the sacrum. This distinction helps in making the correct diagnosis.

What Causes Tailbone Pain?

Coccydynia often results from direct trauma, such as a fall onto the buttocks or an injury during childbirth. Other causes include prolonged sitting on hard surfaces and repetitive sports like cycling or rowing.

Pelvic floor issues are an often-overlooked cause. The muscles that lift the anus attach to the tailbone. When these muscles are too tight or have trigger points, they cause pain that is felt in the tailbone. This explains why some cases improve with pelvic floor physical therapy, even in the absence of an obvious injury.

Excess weight makes the tailbone more vulnerable, because pressure in the pelvis increases when sitting. ¹

Unlike lower back sprains which affect the ligaments of the lower back, coccydynia directly affects the tailbone.

What Are the Symptoms of Coccydynia?

The main symptom is pain located at the tip of the tailbone. It gets worse when you sit down, stand up from a chair, or during bowel movements. You can pinpoint the pain with a single finger.

People often describe this pain as "sitting on a knife." The pain can be sharp when you change positions, or a deep ache when you sit for a long time.

• Pain directly at the tip of the tailbone
• Pain worsens on hard surfaces
• Sharp pain when standing up from a chair
• Pain During Bowel Movements
• Sometimes pain during sexual intercourse
• Leaning backward worsens the pain
• Leaning forward helps

The pain may spread to the buttocks or the back of the thighs. However, it does not follow nerve pathways like sciatica. There is no numbness or weakness.

Long-lasting coccydynia can lead to other issues. You may worry about sitting, avoid certain activities, and have trouble concentrating at work. If you recognize these symptoms, know that this is a common condition that responds well to treatment.

How Is Coccydynia Diagnosed?

Diagnosis is mainly based on a clinical examination. The tailbone is felt to reproduce the pain and assess its mobility. Imaging is rarely needed unless there are warning signs.

The physical exam focuses on palpating the tailbone directly. Pressing on the skin between your buttocks causes tenderness at the tip of the tailbone. The examiner also checks how the tailbone moves to see if there is too much or too little mobility.

Checking the tone of the pelvic floor muscles helps identify muscular problems. Trigger points in the levator muscles can refer pain to the coccyx. This evaluation helps rule out other conditions, such as lumbar osteoarthritis.

When is imaging necessary?

Imaging becomes necessary in certain cases:

• Severe, constant pain that doesn't change with position
• Fever or unexplained weight loss
• History of Cancer
• Severe trauma with suspected fracture

Rest assured: these situations are rare. For typical cases, a diagnosis based on pain and tenderness to the touch is sufficient, and treatment can begin without imaging.

How Does Physiotherapy Treat Coccydynia?

Physical therapy—the first treatment to try—combines manual therapy for the tailbone, pelvic floor exercises, posture training, and pain management strategies. It works in most cases.

Manual techniques address coccyx movement issues. Gentle pushes and movements are used, either externally or internally. Pelvic floor therapy treats muscle problems when tension in the levator muscles causes symptoms.

For cases requiring specialized attention, our perineal physiotherapy program offers tailored treatments. To better understand our comprehensive approach, discover everything you need to know about physiotherapy.

What Sitting Position Modifications Help Coccydynia?

Use a tailbone cushion with a cutout. Lean slightly forward when sitting. Take breaks every 20–30 minutes. A wedge-shaped cushion can help relieve pressure on the tailbone while sitting.

• Choose cushions with a cutout that relieves pressure
• U-shaped or wedge-shaped cushions work best
• Keep cushions at work, in the car, and at home
• Be careful with donut-shaped cushions that have a hole in the center: they can actually increase pressure on the tailbone.

• Lean slightly forward
• Do not lean backward
• Keep Your Feet Flat on the Floor
• Good sitting posture helps shift your weight away from the tailbone and onto the sit bones (the bones in the buttocks) and thighs.

• Stand up every 20 to 30 minutes
• Move and change positions
• Use a standing desk if possible

• Adjust chair height
• Avoid Soft Chairs That Cause You to Tilt Backwards
• Use lumbar support

What Is the Recovery Time for Coccydynia?

La plupart des cas de coccydynie s'améliorent en quelques semaines à quelques mois. Chez une partie des personnes, la douleur peut devenir chronique et nuire à la qualité de vie. Pour une coccydynie récente, par exemple après une chute, le repos complet n'est généralement pas nécessaire. Faites quelques jours de repos relatif en adaptant la Sitting Position, puis reprenez vos activités peu à peu. Un médicament contre la douleur peut aider, mais ne prenez pas d'anti-inflammatoires automatiquement : demandez conseil à votre pharmacien. Au besoin, un émollient fécal peut aussi être utile. Pour le détail, voyez les principes PEACE and LOVE pour soigner une blessure récente. Chez une partie des personnes, la douleur est plus difficile à traiter, en raison de la nature complexe de la douleur au coccyx. La nociception est le système d'alarme du corps qui détecte un danger dans les tissus. Une douleur peut se maintenir à cause d'une nociception altérée, même quand il n'y a plus de dommage aux tissus.

Several factors affect the speed of healing. Continuing painful activities slows down recovery. Anxiety and catastrophic thinking also play a role. Pelvic floor issues and obesity make recovery more challenging.

When pain persists, a key part of treatment is acknowledging that the person’s pain is real, and then tailoring care to each individual. Low morale can amplify the pain a person feels, particularly through negative thoughts.

Rest assured: about 90% of cases improve with conservative treatment. Expect your symptoms to fluctuate during recovery, with a gradual overall improvement.

Which activities should be modified with coccydynia?

Temporarily avoid prolonged sitting, cycling, and rowing. Modify floor exercises with padding. Gradually resume activities as symptoms improve.

Cycling puts constant pressure on the tailbone with repetitive movements. Rowing creates similar stress due to the sustained sitting position.

Swimming is an excellent alternative exercise. It keeps you fit without putting strain on the tailbone. You can return to activities when doing them doesn't worsen your pain beyond your baseline level.

When Are Injections or Surgery Considered?

The good news: more than 90% of cases resolve without surgery. Cortisone injections are considered when initial conservative treatment has not provided sufficient pain relief and symptoms persist. Surgery is rare and reserved for severe chronic cases.

Corticosteroid injections deliver the anti-inflammatory medication directly to the painful area. They can provide relief for several months. If the injection makes the pain go away, it confirms that the tailbone is the actual source of the pain.

Surgery (coccygectomy) involves removing part or all of the coccyx. Surgery is considered only when pain persists despite proper conservative treatment. Success rates range from 60 to 90 percent, with the best results seen in patients with a clear traumatic cause.

Other treatments for persistent coccydynia include radiofrequency ablation and prolotherapy. Research supporting these treatments is still limited.

How to prevent coccydynia?

Prevention includes using protective equipment in sports, maintaining good sitting posture, taking regular breaks, and strengthening core and pelvic floor muscles.

• Wear Padded Shorts for Sports with a Risk of Falling
• Learn to fall to the side instead of directly on your buttocks
• Choose the right bicycle seat and adjust your position

• Use Well-Padded Chairs
• Take movement breaks every 30 to 60 minutes
• Maintain Good Sitting Posture

• Strengthen core and pelvic floor muscles
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Avoid sitting for long periods on hard surfaces without padding

Pregnant women have a higher risk. Our pregnancy and postpartum program includes pelvic floor physiotherapy, which can reduce the risk of tailbone injury.

Ready to find relief for your tailbone pain?

Our physiotherapists at Physioactif offer specialized treatment for coccydynia. We combine manual therapy, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and personalized pain management strategies.

Coccydynia can significantly limit your work and leisure activities. However, effective treatments are available. Physiotherapy addresses tailbone problems and their underlying causes. Whether you suffer from coccydynia or other back pain, we are here to help you.

Early treatment significantly improves outcomes and prevents chronic pain. If you have tailbone pain that interferes with sitting or working, contact Physioactif today to schedule an assessment.

References

1. Maigne JY, et al. Causes and mechanisms of common coccydynia. Spine. 2000;25(23):3072-3079.↩ Back to text

Nos physiothérapeutes ont défini la stratégie de recherche, le plan et le contenu clinique de cet article. Un outil d’IA a soutenu la recherche documentaire et la révision du texte pour assurer une cohérence du contenu et du style d’écriture.