This study aims to determine the effect of adding interferential current to pelvic floor muscle training on vaginismus.
Vaginismus is a common sexual problem with a prevalence of 20% in Egyptian women, that has a significant impact on a person's life, affecting their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being, as well as their relationships and overall quality of life. There were previous studies that studied the effect of pelvic floor rehabilitation on vaginismus and found that there was a highly significant decrease in pain and pelvic floor muscle spasms, as well as a highly significant increase in sexual function. Also, only one previous protocol explored the effect of interferential current on treating vaginismus. But, till now, there is no prior study that investigated the impact of adding interferential current to pelvic floor muscle training on treating vaginismus. this trial has two groups; one will receive interferential current, and the other group will receive interferential current + pelvic floor muscle training
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
30
It will be in the form of pelvic floor relaxation with biofeedback, as well as stretching exercises for the pelvic floor and the adjacent muscles. The patient will be asked to lie in a comfortable crock lying position. She will be instructed to do diaphragmatic breathing exercises. The vaginal electrode of the biofeedback will be gently introduced into the vagina to start pelvic floor relaxation training. Then, the patient will be asked to perform pelvic floor relaxation by slightly contracting the pubococcygeus muscle. After 10 minutes of pelvic floor relaxation training, the patient will then be instructed to return to the active state gradually, the treatment procedure will be performed 3 times/ week for 8 weeks. Stretching exercises for the pelvic floor and the adjacent muscles: Levator ani \& perineal muscles stretch, hip adductor muscles stretch, piriform muscle stretch, hip flexor muscles stretch, and obturator internus muscle stretch.
Each female in the experimental group will receive interferential current, 3o minutes per session, 2 sessions per week, for 8 weeks. The applied parameters will be a frequency of 2000Hz, a modulated amplitude of frequency of 80Hz, pulse width of 200μs, and the intensity is modulated according to the sensory level of each participant. While the participant is in a comfortable crock lying position with abducted hips, the position of the electrodes will be maintained in all sessions
Assessment of pain intensity.
The visual analogue scale (VAS): will be used to measure pain intensity for each woman in both groups. Each woman will be asked to mark the point on the scale that represents her pain level.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Quantification of pressure pain threshold in the perineum.
The pressure pain threshold in the perineum region will be evaluated with a pressure algometer.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Assessment of pelvic floor muscle tone.
It will be assessed by biofeedback perineometer.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Measurement of cognition regarding vaginal penetration in women with lifelong vaginismus.
The Vaginal Penetration Cognition Scale (VPCQ) will be used to evaluate cognition regarding to vaginal penetration for all participants in both groups before and after the end of the treatment program.
Time frame: Eight weeks
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The patients in both groups will follow general advice to help vaginismus for 8 weeks