Study of Radiofrequency and Myofascial Therapy for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain and Myofascial Syndrome

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are conducting a randomized clinical trial in women with chronic pelvic pain caused by a myofascial syndrome. The pain must be above a 4 score on the Visual Analog Scale VAS and unrelated to obstetric injury. The study aims to compare the effects of radiofrequency therapy, myofascial manual therapy, and no treatment on pain and other related symptoms in this population. The trial is sponsored by the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and includes women aged 18 and older with pelvic pain lasting at least 6 months. Participants are divided into four groups two groups receive 8 weekly sessions of radiofrequency therapy, one group receives 8 weekly sessions of myofascial manual therapy, and the final group receives no treatment but is monitored. The radiofrequency groups are further split into an active treatment group and a sham placebo control group, both double-blinded. Besides the sessions, all groups using therapy perform daily Thiele massage at home. Each session lasts about 20 minutes. During the study, researchers assess pain levels through muscular evaluation using a verbal numeric scale at the start and after 8 weeks of treatment. Additional measures include sexual function, pain catastrophizing, quality of life, anxiety, depression, central sensitization, and other pelvic floor symptoms. These assessments help monitor the effects of the therapies and overall well-being. The study involves close monitoring and evaluation over an 8-week period.

Effect of Radiofrequency in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain With an Associated Myofascial Syndrome Versus Myofascial Therapy and no Treatment