Purpose: To examine the relationship between menstrual symptoms and motor imagery skills in young women. Methods: A total of 117 women between the ages of 18–40 were included in the study. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for the menstrual pain intensity, the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) for the menstrual-related symptoms, and the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire-20 (KVIQ-20) for the motor imagery were used. All measurements were conducted on the first or second day of the menstruation, depending on when the subject declared subjectively experiencing most symptoms. Results: The relationship between menstruation symptoms and visual imagery (VI) and kinesthetic imagery (KI) skills was examined. A weak negative correlation was found between MSQ_negative effects/somatic complaints and KVIQ-20_KI (p = .040, r = −.199). The relationship between menstrual pain intensity and KVIQ-20 items was examined. The strongest relationship was found between VAS and KVIQ-20_knee_VI and KVIQ-20_hip_VI (p = 003, r = −.288; p = 005, r = −.270; p = 004, respectively). A weak negative correlation was also found between VAS and KVIQ-20_VI_total and KVIQ-20_KI_total (p = 0.004, r = −.275; p = 0.19, r = −.227, respectively). Discussion: This is the first study to examine menstrual symptoms in women in detail and reveal their relationship with motor imagery skills. Menstrual symptoms, especially negative effects/somatic complaints seen during menstruation, negatively affect kinesthetic imagery ability. In addition; chronic menstrual pain has a negative effect on both kinesthetic and visual imagery abilities. Considering the impairments in motor imagery skills due to negative effects/somatic complaints during menstruation and chronic menstrual pain, adding motor imagery training to treatment programs aimed at improving women’s health may have positive effects.

The majority of women experience a recovery from pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (LPP) within three months of delivery. However, a postpartum follow-up study reported that approximately 8–20% of women still experience persistent non-specific LPP two to three years after delivery, which can interfere with daily activities. The present study aims to investigate the effect of physical therapy on pain severity, disability and quality of life in women with LPP in the postpartum period. The present literature search was conducted from inception to December 2024 in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. The inclusion criteria were met by studies written in English that were reviewed to investigate the effect of physical therapy on pain, disability, and quality of life in women over the age of 18 years old with LPP in the postpartum period. The meta-analysis was conducted using the Cochrane Review Manager software. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. A meta-analysis was performed, and the evidence levels and gaps were determined. The outcomes were also analyzed according to follow-up periods as short-term(< 3 months), mid-term(≥ 3 to 12 months) and long-term(> 12 months). The systematic review incorporated a total of 37 randomized controlled trials, encompassing 57 different treatment groups. These treatment groups included 1,739 women diagnosed with LPP during the postpartum period. Stabilization exercises (I2 = 92%, effect size = 2,70, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.87–3.54, p < 0.001 is effective in the short term with a high level of evidence. High level of evidence showed that stabilization exercises (I2 = 91%, effect size = 2.78, 95%CI = 1.87–3.69, p < 0.001) is effective in the short term. Other exercises (I2 = 87%, effect size = 1.54, 95%CI = 0.79–2.29, p < 0.001) and manipulative therapy (I2 = 98%, effect size = 10.52, 95%CI = 4.64–16.39, p = 0.0005) are effective at a moderate level of evidence in the short term. The findings of this study indicate that the implementation of stabilization exercises is associated with a significant reduction in pain severity in the short term, a conclusion that is supported by high-quality evidence. The evidence base indicates that manipulative therapy and other forms of exercise may also contribute to a reduction in pain severity. Evidence supports the hypothesis that stabilization exercises represent the most effective intervention for reducing disability. CRD42023485978.

Objective: The aim of this case report was to describe the use of complete decongestive therapy (CDT) with a new approach in the management of a male patient with facial edema related to Morbus Morbihan Syndrome (MMS). Methods: An 18-year-old male patient with MMS after acne treatment was the subject of this case report. Volume assessment was performed with distance measurements of the facial area using standard reference points, the overflow method, and the measurement of the percentage of subdermal fluid. Patient-reported symptoms of lymphedema (feeling of swelling and tightness) and body image perception were evaluated with the “Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)”, and the severity of anxiety was evaluated with the “State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)”. In addition, the patient’s perception of improvement was determined using a Likert-type scale. Evaluations were performed at baseline, week-4 (during the treatment) and week-8 (immediately after treatment). CDT was applied to the patient in a total of 24 sessions, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Results: Compared to the baseline measurement, the facial distances (tragus-mental cavity, tragus-mouth corner, mandibula-nasal canal, mandibula-internal orbita, mandibula-external orbita, mental cavity-internal orbita, mental cavity-mandibula, right–left tragus, and hairline in the forehead-mental cavity), the volume and the percentage of subdermal fluid of facial area were found to be decreased at the 4th and 8th week measurements. The anxiety score, patient reports of feelings of swelling and tightness, and body image perception improved after the 8-weeks of treatment compared to baseline. Conclusion: This case report described the use of CDT in treating edema and patient symptoms in a patient with facial lymphedema related to MMS. Body image and level of anxiety improved.