Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is often the result of a problem in the abdominal organs such as the intestines. But pain in the abdomen can also be caused by the abdominal muscles or by a back problem. Read more about abdominal symptoms below and take the online self-check.

Anatomy of the abdomen

The abdominal muscles lie around the waist like a kind of corset. They help us move the trunk and keep the internal organs in place. The internal organs such as the intestines, stomach, and liver can cause symptoms with constipation, appendicitis, or a stomach ulcer. These are symptoms for which you should see a doctor.

Abdominal muscles
The abdominal muscles are made up of several layers of muscles on top of each other. These include the rectus abdominis, the obliques, and the transverse abdominal muscles. Together they provide stability and movement of the trunk. These muscles attach to the ribcage and back and run from there to the pelvis.

Back
Pain in the abdomen can also come from a more unexpected source: the back. Nerves run from the back toward the abdomen. When a problem occurs in the back and a nerve is, for example, irritated, this can cause symptoms in the abdomen. Pain from the ribs can also radiate toward the abdomen.

Check your abdominal symptoms

The online physical therapy check can help determine where your abdominal symptoms may be coming from. This test checks, among other things, for abdominal pain originating from muscles, but also for symptoms that resemble this. First you are asked about the location of your pain, after which your symptoms are explored in more detail.

At the end of the test, the result is shown with conditions that match your symptoms. If you wish, you can share the result with a physical therapist near you.

Abdominal conditions

Below is an overview of conditions that cause abdominal pain. The articles provide more detailed information about the anatomy, symptoms, and treatment.