The following articles and books are mentioned in Physiotherapy for vulval pain, which was a presentation originally given by Women’s Health physiotherapist Helen Forth at the VPS Super Workshop 2010. The references are given in the order in which they appear in the podcast.

Slide 5 (04:15)    Why treat vulval pain with physiotherapy?

  1. Reissing ED, Binik YM, Khalifé S, Cohen D, Amsel R. Vaginal spasm, pain, and behavior: an empirical investigation of the diagnosis of vaginismus. Arch Sex Behav 2004 Feb; 33(1):5–17.
  2. Reissing ED, Brown C, Lord MJ, Binik YM, Khalifé S. Pelvic floor muscle functioning in women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol 2005 Jun; 26(2):107-13.
  3. Frasson E, Graziottin A, Priori A, Dall’ora E, Didonè G, Garbin EL, Vincentini S, Bertolasi L. Central nervous system abnormalities in vaginismus. Clin Neurophysiol 2009 Jan; 120(1):117–22. Epub 2008 Dec 13.
  4. Gentilcore-Saulnier E, McLean L, Goldfinger C, Pukall CF, Chamberlain S. Pelvic floor muscle assessment outcomes in women with and without provoked vestibulodynia and the impact of a physical therapy program. J Sex Med 2010 Feb; 7(2 Pt 2): 1003-22. Epub 2010 Jan 6.
  5. Bergeron S, Morin M, Lord MJ. Integrating pelvic floor rehabilitation and cognitive-behavioural therapy for sexual pain: What have we learned and where do we go from here? Sexual and Relationship Therapy 2010; 25:3,289-298.
  6. Morin M, Bergeron S. Pelvic floor rehabilitation in the treatment of dyspareunia in women. Sexologies 2009; 18:91-94.
  7. Prendergast SA, Weiss JM. Screening for musculoskeletal causes of pelvic pain. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2003 Dec; 46(4):773-82.

Slide 8 (07:38)    The role of the physiotherapist in treating vulval pain

Slide 11 (15:05)    Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation: myofascial trigger point release 

  • Shelly ER et al. Pelvic Pain. In J Haslam and J Laycock, editors. Therapeutic Management of Incontinence and Pelvic Pain. Springer-Verlag; 2002.

Slide 22 (29:22)    Relaxation and lifestyle

  1. Rosenbaum TY, Owens A. The role of pelvic floor physical therapy in the treatment of pelvic and genital pain-related sexual dysfunction (CME). J Sex Med 2008 Mar; 5(3):513-23.
  2. FitzGerald MP, Kotarinos R. Rehabilitation of the short pelvic floor. I: Background and patient evaluation. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2003 Oct; 14(4):261-8. Epub 2003 Aug 2.
  3. Forth HL, Cramp MC, Drechsler WI. Does physiotherapy treatment improve the self-reported pain levels and quality of life of women with vulvodynia? A pilot study. J Obstet Gynaecol 2009 Jul; 29(5):423-9.

Slide 26 (32:19)    Does physiotherapy work?

  1. Glazer HI, G Rodke. The Vulvodynia Survival Guide: How to Overcome Painful Vaginal Symptoms and Enjoy an Active Lifestyle. Oakland: New Harbinger; 2002.
  2. Danielsson I, Torstensson T, Brodda-Jansen G, Bohm-Starke N. EMG biofeedback versus topical lidocaine gel: A randomized study for the treatment of women with vulvar vestibulitis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2006; 85(11):1360-7.
  3. Goldfinger C, Pukall CF, Gentilcore-Saulnier E, McLean L, Chamberlain S. A prospective study of pelvic floor physical therapy: pain and psychosexual outcomes in provoked vestibulodynia. J Sex Med 2009 Jul; 6(7):1955-68. Epub 2009 Apr 28.
  4. Forth HL, Cramp MC, Drechsler WI. Does physiotherapy treatment improve the self-reported pain levels and quality of life of women with vulvodynia? A pilot study. J Obstet Gynaecol 2009 Jul; 29(5):423-9.

Slide 27 (33:29)    Does physiotherapy work? (continued)

  1. Bergeron S, Binik YM, Khalifé S, Pagidas K, Glazer HI, Meana M, Amsel R. A randomized comparison of group cognitive-behavioral therapy, surface electromyographic biofeedback, and vestibulectomy in the treatment of dyspareunia resulting from vulvar vestibulitis. Pain 2001 Apr; 91(3):297-306.
  2. Bergeron S, Brown C, Lord MJ, Oala M, Binik YM, Khalifé S. Physical therapy for vulvar vestibulitis syndrome: a retrospective study. J Sex Marital Ther 2002 May-Jun; 28(3):183-92.
  3. Landry T, Bergeron S, Dupuis MJ, Desrochers G. The treatment of provoked vestibulodynia: a critical review. Clin J Pain 2008 Feb; 24(2):155-171.