Response in Patients With Persistent Pelvic Pain to Motor Imagery Through Auditory or Visual Input-A Pilot Randomized Trial.

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluates the response to a motor imagery intervention using visual or auditory inputs in patients with persistent pelvic pain. A secondary objective is to assess how patients' mental visualization capacity influences intervention outcomes. Methods: Forty patients diagnosed with persistent pelvic pain were enrolled in a randomized trial with six motor imagery sessions over 2 weeks. Patients were assigned to interventions delivered through images or audio recordings. Pain intensity, attention to pain, and the ability to mentally visualize and perceive movements were assessed. Results: Participants receiving auditory stimulus-based interventions showed a nonsignificant reduction in pain intensity (from 7.1 points [SD: 1.9] to 6.1 points [SD: 2.4]; p=0.091), while those in the visual input group experienced no change. Attention to pain improved in the visual group (from 30.2 points [SD: 6.2] to 27.6 points [SD: 6.8]; p=0.194), whereas it remained stable in the auditory group. Importantly, the participants' ability to mentally visualize and perceive movements did not significantly impact the outcomes. Conclusions: Auditory motor imagery appears to be a promising, less intrusive approach for managing persistent pelvic pain, with home-based interventions showing potential where access to conventional care is limited. This study highlights the importance of personalized motor imagery approaches, demonstrating superior efficacy for auditory interventions compared to visual ones. Limitations include a brief intervention period and recruitment challenges, yet motor imagery remains a viable therapeutic option. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06343649.