Electrical stimulation combined with manual massage can relieve myofascial pelvic pain / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of combining electrical stimulation with manual massage in treating women′s myofascial pelvic pain (MPPS).Methods:A total of 93 MPPS patients were recruited and randomly divided into an infrared irradiation group ( n=30), an electrical stimulation group ( n=31) and a combination group ( n=32). Those in the infrared group and the electrical stimulation group were given 30 minutes of infrared irradiation or electrical stimulation daily for 10 days, while the combined group was given a manual massage with electrical stimulation. The response to treatment was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to rate discomfort, plus a physical examination, and surface electromyography results using Glazer′s protocol. The treatments′ efficacy and the recurrence of pain were evaluated 1 month after the treatment. Results:The average VAS ratings, resting potentials and their variability of the three groups all improved significantly after the treatment. The average VAS scores of the combined and electrical stimulation groups after the treatment were significantly lower than that of the infrared group. Moreover, the total effective rates of the combined group (96.87%) and the electrical stimulation group (80.65%) were significantly higher than that of the infrared group (56.67%), and the resting potential and variability of the former two groups were also significantly better. All of the above measurements among the combined group after the treatment were significantly better, on average, than in the electrical stimulation group. A month later the recurrence rate in the combined group (6.25%) was significantly lower than in the electrical stimulation group (25.81%) and the infrared group (56.67%).Conclusion:Electrical stimulation combined with manual massage is effective in relieving myofascial pelvic pain.