Hypothesis / aims of study
This original study aims to compare different physiotherapeutic treatment approaches with regard to their impact on quality of life in patients with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic, often painful gynecological condition affecting approximately ten percent of women of reproductive age. Its persistent symptoms are frequently associated with impaired mental health and a reduced quality of life (1).
Study design, materials and methods
To address the research question of this bachelor thesis, a small narrative review was conducted. A comprehensive literature search was performed from March to April 2025 using PubMed, PEDro, Google Scholar, and a university library database. The Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30), a validated and disease-specific instrument, was used as the standardized outcome measure for assessing quality of life (2). Following the screening process, six studies met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis of this review.
Results
The included interventions comprised active exercise programs, yoga, manual therapy, and electrotherapy. All studies reported improvements in quality of life; however, the specific domains affected varied depending on the intervention. Based on the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30), statistically significant improvements were most frequently observed in the subscales “pain,” “emotional well-being,” and “control and helplessness.”
Interpretation of results
The findings indicate that physiotherapeutic interventions including active exercise programs, yoga, manual therapy, and electrotherapy are associated with overall improvements in quality of life in patients with endometriosis. However, the magnitude and domains of improvement appear to be intervention-specific, suggesting differential effects depending on the therapeutic approach. Across the included studies, the most consistent and statistically significant improvements were observed in the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30) subdomains “pain,” “emotional well-being,” and “control and helplessness.” These results suggest that physiotherapeutic interventions may be particularly effective in addressing both physical symptom burden and the psychological dimensions of chronic pain conditions.
In contrast, other quality-of-life domains showed more variable or less consistently reported effects, indicating that certain aspects of disease impact may be less responsive to physiotherapeutic modalities alone. Overall, the results highlight the relevance of physiotherapy as a multimodal and patient-centered treatment approach, with particular benefit in pain reduction and psychosocial well-being in individuals with endometriosis.
However, since only six studies could be included in this narrative review, the significance is rather low, and further research is necessary to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of various physiotherapeutic methods in this field.
Concluding message
In conclusion, the findings suggest that physiotherapeutic interventions can positively influence quality of life in individuals with endometriosis, with particularly consistent benefits in pain reduction, emotional well-being, and perceived control over symptoms. While the effects vary across different intervention types and quality-of-life domains, physiotherapy appears to be a valuable component of a multimodal, patient-centered management approach for endometriosis.