Therapeutic exercise and pain neurophysiology education in quality of life and abdominal wall muscle thickness of women with endometriosis: A randomized controlled trial

Rebeca Abril-Coello, Abril-Coello R, Rebeca Abril‐Coello, Sandra Jiménez‐del‐Barrio, Jiménez-Del-Barrio S, Sandra Jiménez-Del-Barrio, Arturo Dávila Marcos, Marcos AD, Pardos-Aguilella P, Pilar Pardos-Aguilella, Correyero-León M, Marta Correyero León, Marta Correyero-León, Marta Correyero‐León, Luis Ceballos Laita, Ceballos-Laita L, Luis Ceballos-Laita
European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology · 2026 · vol. 325 , pp. 115275 · doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2026.115275 · PMID:42413249 · W7167436824
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This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of therapeutic exercise and pain neurophysiology education on quality of life and abdominal wall muscle thickness in women with endometriosis.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a combined programme of therapeutic exercise (TE) and pain neurophysiology education (PNE) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), abdominal wall muscle thickness, menstrual symptoms and sexual function in women with endometriosis. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation centre specializing in women's health. PARTICIPANTS: Forty women diagnosed with endometriosis were assigned at random to either the experimental group (EG) or the standard education group (SEG). INTERVENTION: The EG participated in 24 combined sessions of TE and PNE over an 8-week period, while the SEG received four online theoretical sessions on healthy lifestyle habits. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was HRQoL, assessed using the EQ-5D-5 L (both EQ-VAS and EQ-5D index). The secondary outcomes were abdominal wall muscle thickness, menstruation-related symptoms, and sexual function, assessed using ultrasound, the CVM-22 questionnaire, and the Female Sexual Function Index, respectively. Assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately post-intervention (T1), and at 3-month follow-up (T2). RESULTS: The linear mixed model showed greater improvements in HRQoL (EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS) in the EG compared with the SEG at T1 and T2, with large effect sizes. Exploratory analyses suggested greater increases in abdominal muscle thickness (transverse abdominis and internal oblique) and improvements in menstrual symptoms at T1 and T2, although these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the absence of adjustment for multiplicity. CONCLUSIONS: A combined programme of TE and PNE may improve HRQoL in women with endometriosis in the short and medium term. Exploratory analyses reported that abdominal muscle thickness and menstrual symptoms showed favourable changes.

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MeSH descriptors

Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Muscles Abdominal Wall Abdominal Wall Abdominal Wall Abdominal Wall Abdominal Wall Abdominal Wall Abdominal Wall Abdominal Wall

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (53)

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