Background: Dyspareunia is defined as the occurrence of pain during or after sexual intercourse, which directly affects physical, sexual, and mental health. This condition can lead to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem in women who experience it. Objectives: The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions for the treatment of female dyspareunia. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Method: Search of publications was conducted in Scopus, Medline, Pubmed, Cinahl and Web of Science. Treatment effects were defined as standardized mean difference and their 95% confidence intervals. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Crohan's Q test and quantified using the I² index. Results: Of the 19 articles selected, six applied multimodal physiotherapy treatments; five, electrotherapy; three, Thiele's massage; two, interdisciplinary interventions or pelvic floor muscle training; and one, extracorporeal shockwave therapy. The meta-analysis showed significant results for the variables pain and quality of life with the interventions based on electrotherapy and electrotherapy combined with pelvic floor muscle training. These interventions did not show significant results for the improvement of sexual function. Conclusions: Physiotherapy techniques are effective and procedures have been identified with reliable results in improving pain and quality of life in patients with dyspareunia. One of the most important aspects is the strengthening of the perineal musculature and the application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Furthermore, manual trigger point release therapy and Thiele massage, optimize and guarantee the reduction of pain intensity. Prospero registration: CRD42021236155.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous electrolysis for the treatment of patients with tendinopathies. Data sources: A systematic search of publications was conducted in Pubmed, Cinahl, Medline, Scopus and Web of Science. Methods: The Oxford 2011 Levels of Evidence and the Jadad scale were used to assess the quality of studies. The mean and standard deviation were obtained for each study group and used to calculate the effect size. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used to develop a random-effects model. Results: Of the 14 articles, four applied percutaneous electrolysis to the knee, three to the shoulder, three to the elbow, two to the hip and two to the ankle and foot. A meta-analysis on intensity of pain (evaluated with algometer and the Visual Analogue Scale) was performed on studies comparing percutaneous electrolysis with a control group, indicating that the groups treated with percutaneous electrolysis had better results ( p = 0.01). Although percutaneous electrolysis did not overcome the analgesic effect achieved by corticosteroid injections. Conclusions: The percutaneous electrolysis is effective for the treatment of tendinopathies. The combination of this technique with eccentric training has proven to be one of the most effective treatments to date for improving pain. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42021230005.

Chronic nonspecific low back pain is common and one of the most disabling conditions in the world. There is moderate evidence that chronic low back pain patients present altered functional connectivity in areas related to pain processing. Quantitative sensory testing is a way of clinical measure of these alterations. Although there is not enough evidence, there are some reports that electroacupuncture is supposedly more effective in relieving pain than acupuncture because the addition of electric current could optimize the effects of traditional technique. Thus, the objective of this randomized clinical trial was to verify if electroacupuncture treatment reduces pain and changes quantitative sensory testing responses in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Patients were evaluated before and after 10 sessions regarding pain (11‐point numerical rating pain scale) and quantitative sensory testing (pressure pain threshold, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation). There were 1 treatment group (electroacupuncture (EA)) and three different control groups (CTR 1, CTR 2, and CTR 3). A total of 69 patients participated in the study. No significant differences were found in pain intensity or quantitative sensory testing responses when comparing electroacupuncture group to the three control groups. There was a significant reduction in both resting and movement pain intensity in groups EA, CTR 1, and CTR3. Although ten sessions of electroacupuncture have diminished pain intensity in both resting and movement, it could not change significantly quantitative sensory testing and diminish central sensitization in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. The implications of this study involve the fact that, maybe, in chronic nonspecific low back pain, electroacupuncture should be associated with other treatments that target central sensitization.

Several studies have used placebo acupuncture methods in recent years as a way for blinding therapeutic effect of acupuncture, however placebo method selection has not followed enough methodological criteria to the point of stabilishing a consensus of what should be the best method to be used. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three different placebo acupuncture methods for blinding applied in healthy subjects. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Sergipe with the number 47193015.5.0000.5546 and all individuals participating in the study signed a free and informed consent. For this study, 321 healthy volunteers were randomly divided into seven groups using the abdominal point stomach (ST) 25 and seven groups using the lumbar point bladder (Bl) 52 for stimulation. For real acupuncture procedure, three different methods of placebo acupuncture plus a mix between real acupuncture and placebo applied in the same individual, totaling fourteen groups in this study. Outcome assessments were performed before and immediately after applying the technique. Investigator who assessed variables had no knowledgement about the method was applied. Identification, weight and height were measured before puncture by using. At the end, subjects were asked if they believed they were receiving real or placebo acupuncture. There was no significant difference between groups for the perception about the type o stimulation (wheter real or placebo puncture). Percentage of subjects who reported to have received real acupuncture in the abdominal point was 69.56% in real group, 86.95% in group Park Sham, 82.60% in needle + foam, 91.30% in insertion and removal, 78.26% in real + Park Sham, 86.36% in real + needle and foam, 86.95% in real + insertion and removal, and for the lumbar point was 86.36% in real group, 86.95% in group Park Sham, 69.56% in needle + foam, 72% in insertion and removal, 86.95% in real + Park Sham, 81.81% in real + needle and foam and 78.26% in real + insertion and removal. All placebo acupuncture methods proposed in this study were equally effective for bliding the study participants using either abdominal or lumbar acupoints, and none of the placebo methods presented benefit compared to the other to be used in future clinical trials. Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), number of approval: 47193015.5.0000.5546 ensaiosclinicos.gov.br RBR-3w2p32 Registered in 28th January 2016.

Introduction. Osteoarthritis is a disease characterized by progressive wear and tear of the joint, with the knee being the most affected region. These patients have reduced mobility and mobility, among other symptoms. Thus, it is necessary to know the variables that influence the ability to walk. Objective. To analyze how much the gait capacity, in the performance of the six-minute walk test, can be influenced by the maximum isometric strength of the quadriceps or by kinesiophobia in women with knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods. This is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 49 women diagnosed with osteoarthritis. The evaluation was carried out in a single moment. Variables studied isometric quadriceps strength, level of fear of movement (kinesiophobia), and ability to walk. Simple linear regression analyzes were performed, with gait ability as the dependent variable and maximum isometric strength and kinesiophobia as independent. Data were presented with mean and standard deviation and were analyzed by the SPSS Statistic 22.0 software, considering as significant. Results. The maximum isometric strength presents a significant difference, directly interfering with the gait ability; as kinesiophobia does not show a statistically significant difference, it does not directly interfere with the ability to walk. Conclusion. Maximal quadriceps isometric strength directly interferes with gait ability in women with knee osteoarthritis, thus suggesting the inclusion of this strategy in treatment programs for this population.