{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T22:30:33Z","timestamp":1792794633648,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"7","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,7,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background and Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>Musculoskeletal dysfunction is a known cause of dyspareunia and a reason for referral for physical therapist management. The purpose of this case report is to describe the physical therapist management of a patient with dyspareunia and overactivity of the pelvic-floor muscles with a limited number of visits and a focus on self-management strategies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Case Description<\/jats:title><jats:p>This case involved a 30-year-old married woman with levator ani muscle overactivity and dyspareunia that was 1 year in duration.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Intervention<\/jats:title><jats:p>The therapist explained the anatomy and function of the pelvic-floor muscles during intercourse, instructed the patient on how to control the levator ani muscles, and instructed her on vaginal self-dilation techniques.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Outcomes<\/jats:title><jats:p>The patient attended 3 physical therapy sessions over a period of 9 weeks. She performed vaginal self-dilation at home. She rated pain during intercourse as 0\/10 on a verbal rating scale and had no remaining tenderness in the levator ani muscles at discharge.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Some women with dyspareunia may improve with an intervention that emphasizes education and vaginal self-dilation techniques. Future research should compare home-based and clinic-based treatments.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2522\/ptj.20060168","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,5,2]],"date-time":"2007-05-02T14:37:41Z","timestamp":1178116661000},"page":"935-941","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":34,"title":["Management of Dyspareunia and Associated Levator Ani Muscle Overactivity"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"87","author":[{"given":"Kimberly A","family":"Fisher","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"KA Fisher, PT, MPT, is Director, Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Unit, OU Pelvic and Bladder Health Clinic, 825 NE 10th, Ste 3400, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (USA); Clinical Instructor, Section of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery\/Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and Clinical Instructor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Science 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