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- Title
(133) SELF-REPORTED EFFICACY OF PELVIC FLOOR PHYSICAL THERAPY AS A TREATMENT FOR PUDENDAL NEURALGIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
- Authors
Niedenfuehr, J; Stevens, D; King, L
- Abstract
Introduction: Pudendal neuralgia (PN) is a devastating sexual pain disorder characterized as pain of the genital and/or perineal regions and is often due to injury, irritation, or entrapment of the pudendal nerve. Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) is a recommended treatment for PN despite the lack of clinical evidence supporting its use. Objective: We aimed to understand the efficacy of PFPT for treating PN by evaluating self-reported efficacy from PN patients. Methods: An online survey was conducted on PN patients who had participated in PFPT as a treatment for PN. Participants were asked to evaluate the efficacy of PFPT specifically regarding its effects on PN symptoms using a seven-point Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale: 1=very much worse, 2=much worse, 3=minimally worse, 4=no change, 5=minimally improved, 6=much improved, 7=very much improved. If lasting symptom improvement was achieved, participants were asked how many sessions before they first noticed an improvement in symptoms. Results: The average PGIC score among participants was 4.6 ± 1.3 (n=144), indicating no to minimal improvement in symptoms. Twelve percent of participants scored 3 or lower, indicating worsening of symptoms, and only 22% scored 6 or 7, indicating much or very much improvement of symptoms. For those who had symptom improvement, 14.6% of participants reported improvement after only one PFPT session, and five was the median number of sessions before first noticing improvement. Conclusions: PFPT is a minimally effective, and sometimes harmful, treatment for pudendal neuralgia. Better transparency should be provided to patients regarding PFPT's lack of efficacy and potential harm for treating PN symptoms. Disclosure: No.
- Subjects
PELVIC floor; PHYSICAL therapy; PUDENDAL nerve; CROSS-sectional method; POSTHERPETIC neuralgia; SYMPTOMS; NEURALGIA
- Publication
Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2024, Vol 21, p1
- ISSN
1743-6095
- Publication type
Abstract
- DOI
10.1093/jsxmed/qdae054.127