{"paper_id":"3a5fe3e6-f937-44ab-94fb-7a149390e1e2","body_text":"Abstract\nPurpose\nChronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women is a complex syndrome and symptoms are associated with sexual dysfunction, musculoskeletal and myofascial disorders, and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Its widespread prevalence results in substantial expense due to therapy and lost productivity, and it is perhaps one of the most urgent and neglected medical needs. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the role of mindfulness and pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) in the treatment or management of women with CPP.\nMethods\nThis systematic review (CRD42020204987) searched for relevant publications between January 2000 and November 2020 on MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, One File GALE, and Technology Research databases using the following search terms: chronic pelvic pain, pelvic floor physical therapy/physiotherapy, mindfulness, and their variants. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were evaluated.\nResults\nSeven clinical trials (n = 279) were included in the review, and five in the meta-analysis (n = 225). For the pain outcome and its catastrophizing, there was a statistical difference for the Pain Catastrophizing Scale after treatment and during follow-up with mindfulness and PFPT (MD = − 3.82 [− 6.97, − 0.68], p = 0.01, and MD = − 4.49 [− 7.61, − 1.37], p = 0.00, respectively). Sexual function, assessed by the female sexual function index, differed significantly during follow-up between PFPT and mindfulness (MD = − 0.72 [− 1.38, − 0.05], p = 0.03).\nConclusion\nThe small number of studies applying both PFPT and mindfulness to CPP suggests that a multidisciplinary approach is required to treat women with CPP, and further studies involving these therapeutic techniques throughout the CPP cycle are needed.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nAvailability of data and materials\nAll relevant data are within the paper.\nReferences\nHilton L, Hempel S, Ewing BA, Apaydin E, Xenakis L, Newberry S, Colaiaco B, Maher AR, Shanman RM, Sorbero ME, Maglione MA (2017) Mindfulness meditation for chronic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Behav Med 51:199–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9844-2\nGeorge SE, Clinton SC, Borello-France DF (2013) Physical therapy management of female chronic pelvic pain: anatomic considerations. 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Int Urogynecol J 31:917–931. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-020-04251-2\nFunding\nNone.\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nContributions\nCCB: protocol/project development; data collection or management; data analysis; manuscript writing/editing. RF: protocol/project development. CM: protocol/project development. R: data collection or management; data analysis; manuscript writing/editing. TM: data analysis. GVPM: data collection or management; data analysis; manuscript writing/editing. MC: data collection.\nCorresponding author\nEthics declarations\nConflict of interest\nThe authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.\nCode availability\nNot applicable.\nEthics approval\nNot applicable.\nConsent to participate\nNot applicable.\nConsent for publication\nNot applicable.\nAdditional information\nPublisher's Note\nSpringer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.\nSupplementary Information\nBelow is the link to the electronic supplementary material.\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nBittelbrunn, C.C., de Fraga, R., Martins, C. et al. Pelvic floor physical therapy and mindfulness: approaches for chronic pelvic pain in women—a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 307, 663–672 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-022-06514-3\nReceived:\nAccepted:\nPublished:\nVersion of record:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-022-06514-3","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}