Physiotherapy interventions for patients with chronic pelvic pain: A systematic review of the literature

Objective: To summarize the available scientific evidence on physiotherapy interventions in the management of chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Data Sources: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was performed. An electronic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases was performed to identify relevant randomized trials from 2010-2016. Study Selection: Manuscripts were included if at least one of the comparison groups received a physiotherapy intervention. Studies were assessed in duplicate for data extraction and risk of bias using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale PEDro. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Eight of the studies screened met the inclusion criteria. Four manuscripts studied the effects of electrotherapy including intravaginal electrical stimulation, short wave diathermy, respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, and sono-electro-magnetic therapy with positive results. Three studies focused on manual assessing the efficacy of myofascial versus massage therapy in two of them and ischemic compression for trigger points. Conclusions: Although physiotherapy interventions show some beneficial effects, evidence cannot support the results. Heterogeneity in terms of population phenotype, methodological quality, interpretation of results, and operational definition result in little overall evidence to guide treatment.