Are women with endometriosis more likely to experience reduced physical performance compared to women without the condition?

Tatiana Silva; Maiara Oliveira; Edwiges Oliveira; Rayllanne Macena; Gessica Taynara de Oliveira Silva; Saionara M A Câmara; Maria Micussi

doi:10.7717/peerj.16835

Are women with endometriosis more likely to experience reduced physical performance compared to women without the condition?

PeerJ. 2024 Apr 22:12:e16835. doi: 10.7717/peerj.16835. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Tatiana Silva¹, Maiara Oliveira¹, Edwiges Oliveira², Rayllanne Macena², Gessica Taynara de Oliveira Silva², Saionara M A Câmara¹, Maria Micussi¹

Affiliations

¹ Programa de Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
² Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: Endometriosis is a condition of the female reproductive system associated with pelvic pain. Chronic pain can affect physical performance by limiting the functional activities, thus, it is hypothesized that women with endometriosis may also present decreased functional capacity, decreased strength, and mobility. The objective of this study is to compare physical performance in women with and without endometriosis.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study composed of 115 women equally divided into two groups: the endometriosis group (EG), composed of women with a confirmed diagnosis of the disease by magnetic resonance imaging, and the comparator group (CG), consisting of women without suspicion of the disease. Physical performance (dependent variable) was assessed using hand dynamometry, the 6-min walk test (6MWT), gait speed, and the chair stands test. CG participants performed the tests during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Descriptive statistics, unpaired t-tests, and chi-square tests were used to describe and compare the groups. Multiple linear regression tested the associations adjusted for covariates (age, income, education, age at menarche, and body mass index).

Results: The EG had worse gait speed (mean difference: -0.11; 95% CI: [-0.18 to -0.04]), weaker grip strength (mean difference: -3.32; 95% CI: [-5.30 to -1.33]), shorter distance covered in the 6MWT (mean difference: -83.46; 95% CI: [-121.38 to -45.53]), and a lower number of repetitions in the chair stands test (mean difference: -8.44; 95% CI: [-10.64 to -6.25]) than the CG, even after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusion: Grip strength, lower limb strength, mobility, and functional capacity were worse in women diagnosed with endometriosis. Women with endometriosis should be encouraged to engage in physical exercise, adopt healthy lifestyle habits, and participate in rehabilitation activities to control pain, with the aim of reducing functional impairments.

Keywords: Dysmenorrhea; Gynecology; Manual dynamometry; Physical functional performance.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Endometriosis* / complications
Endometriosis* / physiopathology
Female
Hand Strength / physiology
Humans
Physical Functional Performance*
Walking Speed

Grants and funding

The APC for this article was funded by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Finance Code 001.