News & Blog

Anderson RU, Wise D, Sawyer T, Nathanson BH, Nevin Smith J. Equal Improvement in Men and Women in the Treatment of Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Using a Multi-modal Protocol with an Internal Myofascial Trigger Point Wand. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2015 Dec 31. [Epub ahead of print]

In a previously published study, investigators showed that treatment with a wand designed for internal pelvic trigger point release was safe and effective in reducing medication use when applied in conjunction with relaxation therapy in patients with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndromes (UCPPS). In this study, the investigators tried to determine if men and women respond differently to the treatment. They looked back at records of patients with UCPPS who were treated as part of a previous clinical trial. Records for a total of 314 men and 79 women were reviewed and analyzed. The patients first participated in an initial 6-day clinic for training in use of the device and the relaxation protocol. This was followed by a 6-month period in which patients self-administered the therapy. After the 6 months of therapy, the patients were re-evaluated for trigger point sensitivity on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most severe. Looking back over the records, investigators found that men and women had an equal reduction in trigger point sensitivity (a 3-point reduction in severity). Based on this analysis, it appears that the benefit of internal pelvic trigger point release with relaxation therapy is similar, and significant, for both men and women.