Thiele massage as a therapeutic option for women with chronic pelvic pain caused by tenderness of pelvic floor muscles

Mary Lourdes Lima de Souza Montenegro, Mary Lourdes Montenegro, Elaine Cristine Lemes Mateus-Vasconcelos, Elaine Cristine Mateus-Vasconcelos, Francisco José Candido Dos Reis, Francisco José Cândido dos Reis, Júlio César Rosa e Silva, Antonio Alberto Nogueira, Antônio Alberto Nogueira, Omero Benedicto Poli Neto, Omero Benedicto Poli‐Neto
Journal of evaluation in clinical practice · 2010 · vol. 16(5) , pp. 981–982 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2753.2009.01202.x · PMID:20590980 · W1568243025
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Transvaginal Thiele massage applied weekly for four weeks reduced tenderness scores and pain indices in six women with chronic pelvic pain due to levator ani muscle tenderness.

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Abstract

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Musculoskeletal system has been found to be involved in genesis and perpetuation of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and has strong evidences that up to 80% of women with CPP present dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. In this study, we report a series of women with CPP caused by tenderness of pelvic floor muscles successfully treated with Thiele massage. METHODS: Were included in this study six women with CPP caused by tenderness of the levator ani muscle that underwent transvaginal massage using the Thiele technique, over a period of 5 minutes repeated once a week for 4 weeks. After 1 month, the women returned for follow-up. RESULTS: The median tenderness score for the six women evaluated was 3 at the first evaluation and 0 after 1 month of follow-up (P < 0.01). The mean Visual Analogue Scale and McGill Pain Index scores were 8.1 and 34, respectively, at the first evaluation, and 1.5 and 16.6 at follow-up (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Thiele massage appears to be very helpful for women with CPP caused by tenderness of the levator ani muscle. However, these results are preliminary and a larger number of women are necessary to obtain more conclusive results.

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Condition tags

chronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Chronic Disease Massage Pelvic Floor Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Adult Brazil Female Humans Massage Middle Aged Pelvic Floor Pelvic Pain

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