Long‐standing nonulcerative bladder pain syndrome: Impact of Thiele massage on bladder and sexual domains

Abstract

To assess the efficacy of Thiele massage (TM) as monotherapy for nonulcerative interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). A prospective evaluation of 40 women with IC/BPS who underwent TM was conducted. TM was initially administrated by a physiotherapist and then self-administrated at home twice weekly for 16 weeks. Patients were assessed every 4 weeks on an outpatient basis. Assessment tools included 3-day voiding diaries, the Likert visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, and the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) and the Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI) of the O'Leary-Sant questionnaire. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Thirty-six patients completed the study with a mean age ± SD 41.31 ± 9.93 (range 21-60 years). The mean duration of illness ± SD was 81.29 ± 34.55 (range 12-300 months). Perception of pain was higher than at basal level according to Likert VAS (9.2 ± 1.5 vs 9.8 ± 0.5, P = .018). The ICSI and ICPI questionnaires were deteriorated (16.83 ± 2.57 vs 12.89 ± 3.50, P = .015 and 15.75 ± 0.94 vs 14.31 ± 2.55, P < .001, respectively). TM had no significant impact on the total score of FSFI (P = .119); however, there was a negative impact on the lubrication domain with more dryness (0.045). TM is not an effective option as monotreatment modality for nonulcerative IC/BPS. An attempt of physiotherapy should be integrated in a multidisciplinary treatment.