Impact of Physical Rehabilitation on Endometriosis and Adenomyosis-Related Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to summarize recent evidence of the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions in managing symptoms related to endometriosis and adenomyosis. Methods: The review protocol was registered previously (CRD42022236516). A systematic search was conducted in the Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for studies published up to 23 July 2025 that reported the effects of any rehabilitation intervention in women diagnosed with endometriosis or adenomyosis. Risk of bias was assessed, and meta-analyses were performed. Results: A total of 970 studies were identified, of which 19 reports from 17 trials met the inclusion criteria. Approximately one-third of the trials focused on electrophysical agents, another third on exercise programs, and the remaining studies included manual therapy-based interventions—such as pelvic floor physiotherapy (PFP), or Swedish massage—as well as other modalities. Most trials assessed changes in pain, quality of life (QoL), and mental health, showing consistent improvements following intervention. Additional outcomes evaluated included lumbopelvic impairments, sexual function, and bone mineral density. Meta-analyses of eleven studies on pain and five on QoL revealed significant effects, favoring the intervention groups. Conclusions: This review highlights promising benefits of physical rehabilitation, particularly in patients with endometriosis. A range of approaches— including therapeutic exercise, electrophysical agents, and PFP—may contribute to improvements in endometriosis-related clinical outcomes, especially pain and QoL.