Mensendieck somatocognitive therapy as treatment approach to chronic pelvic pain: results of a randomized controlled intervention study.
OBJECTIVE
The etiology of chronic pelvic pain is disputed and multifactorial. We studied the effect of Mensendieck somatocognitive therapy aimed at reducing physical pain by changing posture, movement and respiration patterns combined with standard gynecological treatment.


METHODS
Women with chronic pelvic pain unexplained by pelvic pathology were randomized into 2 groups: (1) standard gynecological treatment and (2) gynecological treatment plus somatocognitive therapy. A Mensendieck test of motor function (posture, movement, gait, sitting posture, respiration) and a visual analogue score of pain were obtained before and after the 90-day treatment period.


RESULTS
The test results of patients treated by standard gynecological measures were unchanged (nonsignificant). By contrast, the patients receiving somatocognitive therapy in addition improved scores by 25% to 60% for all motor functions (P < .01, largest improvement for respiration, up from average 2.98 [SEM 0.30] to 4.72 [0.37]), and pain scores reduced by 50% (down from 5.60 [0.40] to 2.89 [0.40], P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Mensendieck somatocognitive therapy combined with standard gynecological care improved pain experience and motor functions of women with chronic pelvic pain better than gynecological treatment alone.
Haugstad
Gro K
GK
Department of Psychosomatic and Behavioural Medicine, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. grokilli.haugstad@hf.hio.no
Haugstad
Tor S
TS
Kirste
Unni M
UM
Leganger
Siv
S
Klemmetsen
Inger
I
Malt
Ulrik F
UF
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011187:Posture; D012119:Respiration; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000700:Analgesics; D006728:Hormones