The effect of exercise on high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment efficacy in uterine fibroids and adenomyosis: a retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate whether exercise after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment can improve the absorption of uterine fibroids and the relief of dysmenorrhea caused by adenomyosis. Design: A retrospective study. Setting: Gynaecological department of a single centre in China. Population: Patients with uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. Method: From January 2011 to August 2015,83 MRI-confirmed uterine fibroid patients and 102 adenomyosis patients who received HIFU treatment at Chongqing Haifu Hospital and attended the 1-year and 6-month follow up, respectively, were included in our retrospective study. Among the fibroid patients, 51 were assigned to the ‘no exercise group’ and 32 to the ‘exercise group’. Among the adenomyosis patients, 45 were assigned to the ‘no exercise group’ and to the 57 ‘exercise group’. Main outcome measures: Symptom improvement, uterine fibroid volume and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) evaluation. Results: Exercise post-HIFU treatment significantly improved the absorption of uterine fibroids, reduced recurrence rate and increased the rate of pregnancy in uterine fibroid patients. Exercise lead to a more significant reduction in the score of dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: Exercise post-HIFU treatment demonstrated an enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy of HIFU for both uterine fibroid patients and adenomyosis patients. Therefore, exercise should be recommended to patients as part of the post-treatment disease management plan. Tweetable abstract: A retrospective study evaluated the effect of exercise after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment on the therapeutic efficacy of HIFU.