Effect of a Multimodal Supervised Therapeutic Exercise Program on Quality of Life, Pain, and Lumbopelvic Impairments in Women With Endometriosis Unresponsive to Conventional Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of “Physio-EndEA”, a multimodal nine-week supervised exercise intervention, on quality of life, pain, and lumbopelvic impairments in women with endometriosis unresponsive to conventional therapy. Design: Parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and at 1 year. Setting: Two Public University Hospitals. Participants: This trial included 31 women with endometriosis (N=31) randomly allocated to “Physio-EndEA” group (n=16) or control group (n=15). Four participants dropped out of the study for causes unrelated to the intervention. Interventions: The “Physio-EndEA” program consisted of a 1-week lumbopelvic stabilization learning phase followed by an 8-week phase of stretching, aerobic, and resistance exercises focused on the lumbopelvic area. It was sequentially instructed and supervised by a trained physiother- apist (with volume and intensity progression) and adapted daily to the potential of each participant. Control group received the usual treatment stipulated by their gynecologist. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was quality of life. Secondary outcomes were pain intensity, pressure pain thresholds, pain- related catastrophic thoughts, abdominal and back strength, lumbopelvic stability, and muscle architecture. Results: Adherence rate was 90.6% and mean (§standard deviation) satisfaction was 9.44§0.73 out of 10. No remarkable health problems were reported during the trial. In comparison with controls, the quality of life was improved post-intervention and at 1 year in the Physio-EndEA group with large effect sizes (d>0.80). This group also evidenced: a reduced intensity of dyspareunia, catastrophic thoughts; an increase in pelvic, lum- bar, and distal pressure pain thresholds; increases in abdominal and back strength and lumbopelvic stability; and increased thickness of transversus abdominis (right side) and width of lumbar multifidus (left side).