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Zachariou A, Zikopoulos A, Sapouna V, Skentou C, Kaltsas A, Giannakis I, Zachariou D, Dimitriadis F, Mamoulakis C, Mai DBT, Phuoc NHV, Takenaka A, Sofikitis N. Supervised Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Improves Sexual Function and Diminishes Sexual Distress in Women with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomised Controlled Study. J Pers Med 2024; 14:88. [PMID: 38248789 PMCID: PMC10820578 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14010088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on sexual function and distress in women with multiple sclerosis (MS), a prevalent chronic nervous system disorder associated with sexual dysfunction. This study's primary aim was to assess the effectiveness of PFMT at improving sexual function and alleviating sexual distress in this population. In a randomised controlled trial, 82 women with MS were divided into two groups: Group A (41 women) underwent 12 weeks of PFMT, while Group B (41 women) served as a control group with no intervention. Both groups were assessed at the beginning and end of this study using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R). Statistical analysis, including Chi-square tests, was employed to compare the outcomes between the two groups, with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered significant. The results revealed no significant differences in baseline sexual function and distress between the groups. However, at the conclusion of the 12-week period, Group A exhibited statistically significant improvements in nearly all domains of FSFI and FSDS-R compared to Group B, except in the pain domain. This study concludes that PFMT can effectively enhance sexual function and reduce sexual distress in women suffering from MS. These findings underscore the potential of PFMT as a therapeutic intervention in managing sexual dysfunction associated with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Zachariou
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (A.Z.); (I.G.); (N.S.)
| | - Athanasios Zikopoulos
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (A.Z.); (I.G.); (N.S.)
| | - Vaia Sapouna
- Department of Urology, EV PRATTEIN Rehabilitation Centre, 38222 Volos, Greece; (V.S.); (D.Z.)
| | - Chara Skentou
- Department of Obstetrics and, Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Aris Kaltsas
- Third Department of Urology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece;
| | - Ioannis Giannakis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (A.Z.); (I.G.); (N.S.)
| | - Dimitrios Zachariou
- Department of Urology, EV PRATTEIN Rehabilitation Centre, 38222 Volos, Greece; (V.S.); (D.Z.)
| | - Fotios Dimitriadis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Charalampos Mamoulakis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Dung Ba Tien Mai
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (D.B.T.M.); (N.H.V.P.)
| | - Nguyen Ho Vinh Phuoc
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; (D.B.T.M.); (N.H.V.P.)
| | - Atsushi Takenaka
- Department of Urology, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan;
| | - Nikolaos Sofikitis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (A.Z.); (I.G.); (N.S.)
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Gil-Perotin S, Reddam S, González-Mingot C, Gil-Sánchez A, González-Suarez I, Peralta S, Escrivá P, Barea-Moya L, Sánchez-Sánchez B. Reliability, validity and distribution of the Spanish female sexual function index in women with relapsing multiple sclerosis. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:663. [PMID: 38082275 PMCID: PMC10712072 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02811-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a widely recognized tool for assessing sexual dysfunction (SD). However, its validation for Spanish women suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) has not yet been conducted. AIM The study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the 19-item Spanish version of the FSFI (svFSFI) in women with relapsing MS. METHOD A total of 137 women with relapsing MS from three Spanish centers participated in the study and completed the svFSFI. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated. The prevalence of SD in the study cohort was determined, and its association with clinical and sociodemographic variables was analyzed using bi- and multivariate regression analyses. RESULTS The svFSFI demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability and substantial-to-excellent internal consistency in the context of relapsing MS. There was significant convergent validity in the intercorrelations of domains. Discriminant validity showed differences in SD between women with high and low neurological disability, as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. An exploratory factor analysis indicated a five-factor structure for the svFSFI. The prevalence of SD in the MS cohort was found to be 42.6%, with the 'desire' and 'arousal' domains being the most affected. Factors such as EDSS score, fatigue, depression, and having a stable partner were found to influence the total svFSFI score. CONCLUSION The study validates the svFSFI as a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating sexual dysfunction in Spanish women with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gil-Perotin
- Research group in Immunotherapy and Biomodels for Autoimmunity, Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
- CIBER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Salma Reddam
- Research group in Immunotherapy and Biomodels for Autoimmunity, Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Anna Gil-Sánchez
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain
| | | | - Silvia Peralta
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain
| | - Patricia Escrivá
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit, Centro de Salud Trinitat, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lucas Barea-Moya
- Research group in Immunotherapy and Biomodels for Autoimmunity, Health Research Institute, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Beatriz Sánchez-Sánchez
- Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, Physiotherapy in Women's Health (FPSM) Research Group, Madrid, Spain.
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Yavas I, Kahraman T, Sagici O, Ozdogar AT, Yigit P, Baba C, Ozakbas S. Feasibility of Telerehabilitation-Based Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Urinary Incontinence in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized, Controlled, Assessor-Blinded Study. J Neurol Phys Ther 2023; 47:217-226. [PMID: 37306430 DOI: 10.1097/npt.0000000000000448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Urinary incontinence is a common symptom in people with multiple sclerosis. The primary aim was to investigate feasibility of telerehabilitation-based pelvic floor muscle training (Tele-PFMT) and compare its effects on leakage episodes and pad usage with home exercise-based pelvic floor muscle training (Home-PFMT) and control groups. METHODS Forty-five people with multiple sclerosis with urinary incontinence were randomized into 3 groups. Tele-PFMT and Home-PFMT groups followed the same protocol for 8 weeks, but Tele-PFMT performed exercises 2 sessions/week under a physiotherapist's supervision. The control group did not receive any specific treatment. Assessments were made at baseline, weeks 4, 8, and 12. Primary outcome measures were feasibility (compliance to exercise, patient satisfaction, and number of participants included in the study), number of leakage episodes, and pad usage. Secondary outcomes included severity of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder symptoms, sexual function, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. RESULTS Participant eligibility rate was 19%. Patient satisfaction and compliance to exercise were significantly higher in Tele-PFMT than in Home-PFMT ( P < 0.05). No significant differences in the change of leakage episodes and pad usage were found between Tele-PFMT and Home-PFMT. No significant differences in secondary outcomes were found between PFMT groups. Participants in both the Tele-PFMT and Home-PFMT groups had significantly better scores for some measures of urinary incontinence, and overactive bladder and quality of life in compared with the control group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Tele-PFMT was feasible and acceptable in people with multiple sclerosis, and this mode of delivery was associated with greater exercise compliance and satisfaction compared with Home-PFMT. However, Tele-PFMT did not exhibit superiority in terms of leakage episodes and pad usage compared with Home-PFMT. A large trial comparing Home-PFMT and Tele-PFMT is warranted.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A440 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ipek Yavas
- Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey, and Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey (I.Y.); Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey (T.K.); Department of Neurosciences, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey (O.S., P.Y., C.B.); Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Van Yüzüncü Yil University, Van, Turkey (A.T.O.); and Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey (S.O.)
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Hentzen C, Musco S, Amarenco G, Del Popolo G, Panicker JN. Approach and management to patients with neurological disorders reporting sexual dysfunction. Lancet Neurol 2022; 21:551-562. [DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(22)00036-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Sparaco M, Bonavita S. Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions and Their Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11071941. [PMID: 35407549 PMCID: PMC8999571 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11071941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunctions are the most frequent and disabling pelvic floor (PF) disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). PF dysfunction negatively impacts the performance of daily living activities, walking, and the physical dimension of quality of life (QoL) in people with MS. Patient-reported outcomes on sphincteric functioning could be useful to detect PF disorders and their impact on patients’ lives. PF rehabilitation proposed by Kegel is based on a series of regularly repeated exercises for “the functional restoration of the perineal muscles”. Over time, various therapeutic modalities have been added to PF muscles exercises, through the application of physical or instrumental techniques, such as intravaginal neuromuscular electrical stimulation, electromyographic biofeedback, transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. PF rehabilitation has been applied in MS treatment, with improvements of lower urinary tract symptoms severity, QoL, level of anxiety and depression, and sexual dysfunction. This review aims to examine the different PF disorders in MS to evaluate the application of PF rehabilitation in MS and to highlight its advantages and limits, suggesting a multidisciplinary management of PF disorders, with a well-deserved space reserved for PF rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simona Bonavita
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-5666742; Fax: +39-081-5665096
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Díaz-Ruiz MDC, Romero-Galisteo RP, Arranz-Martín B, Palomo-Carrión R, Ando-Lafuente S, Lirio-Romero C. Vibration or Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Spinal Cord Injury: Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031478. [PMID: 35162500 PMCID: PMC8835312 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with spinal cord injuries usually suffer from sexual dysfunction, such as alterations during arousal and an increase in the time to reach orgasm. However, little evidence has been found on its physiotherapeutic approach, as well as poor adherence to the latter. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of two interventions to improve sexual dysfunction: the application of genital vibration and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. METHODS This is a randomized clinical trial that will recruit 54 women who, one year after a spinal cord injury, suffer from sexual dysfunction associated with the latter. The participants will be randomized to three groups: (a) intervention group 1 treated with transcutaneous tibial nerve electrostimulation (n = 18), (b) intervention group 2 treated with genital vibration (n = 18), and (c) a control group (n = 18). The treatment time will be 12 weeks. Adherence to the treatment will be evaluated, as well as the effectiveness of the treatment, through the Female Sexual Function Index, the Sexual Quality of Life-Female questionnaire, quantitative sensory tests, and the improvement reported by the patient in terms of arousal and orgasm. The evaluations will be carried out before the treatment, at the end of the treatment and 3, 6 and 12 months after the end of the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rita-Pilar Romero-Galisteo
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Science Health, University of Málaga, 29016 Málaga, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Beatriz Arranz-Martín
- Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (B.A.-M.); (R.P.-C.); (S.A.-L.); (C.L.-R.)
| | - Rocío Palomo-Carrión
- Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (B.A.-M.); (R.P.-C.); (S.A.-L.); (C.L.-R.)
| | - Sara Ando-Lafuente
- Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (B.A.-M.); (R.P.-C.); (S.A.-L.); (C.L.-R.)
| | - Cristina Lirio-Romero
- Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (B.A.-M.); (R.P.-C.); (S.A.-L.); (C.L.-R.)
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