Effects of connective tissue manipulation on menopausal symptoms

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of connective tissue manipulation (CTM) on menopausal and emotional symptoms, sleep quality, menopause-specific quality of life and flexibility level in postmenopausal women in a randomized, sham-controlled design. 52 postmenopausal individuals were randomly assigned to either intervention or sham control groups. In the intervention group, CTM was applied 3 times in a week for 4 weeks, while in the control group, sham therapeutic ultrasound was applied with the same frequency and duration. The primary outcome measures, frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms, were assessed using hot flash diaries. The secondary outcome measures, menopausal symptom severity, psychological symptom level, insomnia severity, quality of life, and flexibility level were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Depression-Anxiety-Stress 21 Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Scale, and Sit-and-Reach Test, respectively. At the end of the study, a significant change was found in all outcome measures in the CTM group (p<0.05). In comparison between the groups, CTM was found to be superior to sham therapeutic ultrasound in all primary and secondary outcome measures except sleep quality and flexibility level (p<0.05). In conclusion, CTM is more effective in relieving menopausal symptoms, and emotional symptoms, and improving menopause-specific quality of life compared to a sham tactile intervention in postmenopausal woman in the short term. CTM can be used as an effective and safe physiotherapy approach in the management of menopausal symptoms. Further studies should be planned to reveal the long-term effects of CTM.