Cyril Dupuis, PT, MSc, CERAP/UFP
Isabelle Bertrand, PT, PhD, CERAP/UFP
Christian Courraud, PT, PhD, CERAP/UFP
Endometriosis is a painful chronic condition affecting quality of life. Fascia may be involved due to its nociceptive innervation, and its sensibility to hormonal variations and fibrosis, characteristics of endometriosis [1]. Patients suffering from endometriosis value manual therapies efficacy [2], but therapies oriented to fascia have not been evaluated.
This practice survey, submitted to 367 physiotherapists trained in DBM Fasciatherapy [3,4], aimed to identify their clinical opinion on the relevance of this technique, its modalities of use and the characteristics of the patients consulting for this condition.
Methods
An online questionnaire with 20 questions was submitted to 367 physiotherapists trained in DBM Fasciatherapy. Practitioners without clinical experience were excluded.
There were 2 themes:
- How patients are consulting and how DBM Fasciatherapy is deployed (number of sessions, efficacy perception, modalities of application)
- Reason for consultation and expectations from DBM Fasciatherapy.
Results
A total of 99 practitioners were included. Most of them was female (74%), the mean age was 43, and they practiced DBM Fasciatherapy for a mean of 3 years. They felt satisfied with DBM Fasciatherapy for its efficacy on pain (42%) and on quality of life (25%).
57% are using DBM Fasciatherapy exclusively, 20% associated with other techniques, and 23% either exclusively or in association. A mean of 9 sessions are delivered, at a rhythm of 1 (28%) or 2 (57%) session per month. Techniques used were musculoskeletal (50%), visceral (43%), cranial (20%), and techniques oriented at liquid fascia – i.e., blood and lymph (12%).
55% said patients were specifically asking for DBM Fasciatherapy. The main demand was pain relief – lumbar (62%), visceral (67%) and/or perineal (64%) pain. 91% of the patients expected a pain improvement from DBM Fasciatherapy.
Conclusion
The physiotherapists using DBM Fasciatherapy were satisfied of its action on pain and quality of life – which are the 2 main complaints of patients suffering from endometriosis. They combined various techniques (musculoskeletal, visceral, cranial approach) and made relatively few sessions. Clinical studies comparing DBM Fasciatherapy to other physical and/or psychological interventions is necessary to confirm these results.