Continuing improvement of chronic pelvic pain in women after short-term Mensendieck somatocognitive therapy: results of a 1-year follow-up study

Gro Killi Haugstad, Tor S. Haugstad, Unni Kirste, Siv Leganger, Slawomir Wojniusz, Inger Klemmetsen, Ulrik Fredrik Malt
In: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2008 · vol. 199(6) , pp. 615.e1–615.e8 · doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.06.019 · PMID:18845283 · W2063556435
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This study followed women with chronic pelvic pain who underwent short-term Mensendieck somatocognitive therapy, finding continued improvement in their condition one year later.

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Abstract

ObjectivesChronic pelvic pain is a common source of disability among women in the western world. Here we report that 3 months of Mensendieck somatocognitive intervention in chronic pelvic pain patients was followed by continued improvements of outcomes at 1-year follow-up in a randomized, controlled study design.MethodsForty women with chronic pelvic pain unexplained by pelvic pathology were randomly assigned to 2 groups: (1) standard gynecologic treatment and (2) gynecologic treatment plus somatocognitive therapy aimed at reducing physical pain by changing posture, movement, and respiration patterns. A standardized Mensendieck test (SMT) of motor function (assessing posture, movement, gait, sitting posture, and respiration), a self-rating questionnaire assessing psychologic distress and general well-being (GHQ-30) and a visual analog score of pain (VAS) were obtained before, after 90 days of treatment and 1 year after inclusion.ResultsPatients treated by standard gynecologic treatment/supervision did not improve significantly at 1-year follow-up in any of the test modalities. By contrast, those who in addition received somatocognitive therapy had improved scores for all motor functions and pain, as well as GHQ-30 scores for coping, and anxiety-insomnia-distress.ConclusionMensendieck somatocognitive therapy combined with standard gynecologic care improves psychologic distress, pain experience, and motor functions of women with chronic pelvic pain better than gynecologic treatment alone. The effect lasted and even further improvement occurred 9 months after treatment.

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