Université de Sherbrooke Researchers:
- Dr. Mélanie Morin, PT, PhD, Full Professor, Researcher and Director of the Pelvic Health Research Laboratory. School of Rehabilitation and Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Université de Sherbrooke and Research Center of the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS)
- Dr. Marie-Élisabeth Bouchard, MD, FRCSC and Assistant Professor. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, division of urogynecology, Université de Sherbrooke and CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS
- Dr. Isabelle Girard MD, FRCSC and Adjunct Professor. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, division of urogynecology, Université de Sherbrooke and CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS
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Highlighted Publication/Project:
Students of M Morin or M-E Bouchard are underlined.
Roch M, …, Bouchard ME, …, Morin M. A randomized controlled trial investigating feasibility, acceptability and effects of dry needling for provoked vestibulodynia. J Pain. 2025 Nov 7;38:105596. PMID:41207407
This feasibility and acceptability randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated dry needling as a treatment for provoked vestibulodynia. Participants were randomized to receive either real or sham (non-penetrating needles) dry needling. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, and adherence, along with patient-reported acceptability. Preliminary clinical outcomes related to pain and sexual function were also explored.
Summary:
Provoked vestibulodynia is a chronic pain condition with limited effective interventions. This feasibility and acceptability RCT demonstrates that dry needling is acceptable to patients and is feasible to implement in a clinical research setting. Early signals suggest potential benefits for pain reduction during sexual intercourse and a better sexual function, supporting progression to a full-scale multicenter RCT. This project highlights the Université de Sherbrooke’s leadership in pelvic pain research and innovation in conservative and minimally invasive approaches.
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Community:
The Université de Sherbrooke serves the Estrie region, a population of approximately 524,800, through the CIUSSS de l’Estrie–CHUS.
Key features:
- Tertiary pelvic floor center providing:
- urogynecologic surgery (including pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence repair, fistula, perineal clinic),
- chronic pelvic pain management,
- multidisciplinary pelvic floor physiotherapy programs.
- Approx. 1,500+ urogynecology consultations/year and 350+ pelvic reconstructive surgeries.
- Regional outreach includes collaborations with clinics in Montérégie, Centre-du-Québec, and Outaouais.
- The research programs support innovation in conservative therapy, imaging, pain management, and patient-centered care.
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Key publications (since last university spotlight):
- Frawley H, Shelly B, Morin M. Fundamentals of terminology in pelvic floor muscle assessment: A concise reference. Continence. 2025June;14:101756. doi: 10.1016/j.cont.2025.101756.
- Tousignant A, ..., Morin M, Ismail S. A Scoping Review of the Oral Treatment Options for the Management of Detrusor Sphincter Dyssynergia. Neurourol Urodyn. 2025 Apr;44(4):743-753. PMID: 39898415.
- Starzec-Proserpio M, Frawley H, Bø K, Morin M. Effectiveness of nonpharmacological conservative therapies for chronic pelvic pain in women:a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025Jan;232(1):42-71. PMID: 39142363.
- Hay-Smith EJC, ..., Morin M, et al. Comparisons of approaches to pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024 Dec 20;12(12):CD009508. PMID: 39704322.
- Faucher S, Déry-Rouleau G, Bardin M, Morin M. Investigating the role of the pelvic floor muscles in sexual function and sexual response: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sex Med. 2024 Feb27;21(3):217-239. PMID: 38303662.
- Allaire C, ..., Morin M,et al. Guideline No. 445: Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2024Jan;46(1):102283. PMID: 38341225.
- Fisette-Paulhus I, Morin M, et al. Introducing a Clinical Practice Guideline in Physiotherapy to Address Sexuality in Adults with aNeuromuscular Disorder. Physiother Can. 2024 Aug;76(3):259-268. PMID:40959160.
- Starzec-Proserpio M, Bardin MG, Morin M. Not all lasers are the same: a scoping review evaluating laser therapy for vulvodynia. Sex Med Rev. 2023 Dec 23;12(1):14-25. PMID: 37794569.
- Fisette-Paulhus I, Gagnon C, Morin M. Prevalence of urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor disorders in women with myotonic dystrophytype 1. Neuromuscul Disord. 2023 Jan;33(1):32-39. PMID: 36543698.
- Kadah S, Soh SE, Morin M, et al. Is there a difference in pelvic floor muscle tone between women with and without pelvic pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sex Med. 2023 Jan 14;20(1):65-96. PMID: 36897234.
- Morin M, Salomoni SE,et al. Validation of shear wave elastography as a noninvasive measure of pelvic floor muscle stiffness. Neurourol Urodyn. 2022 Sep;41(7):1620-1628. PMID: 35842828.
- Starzec-Proserpio M, ..., Morin M. High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) as an Emerging Treatment for Vulvodynia and Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Disorders: A Systematic Review of Treatment Efficacy.J Clin Med. 2022 Jun 27;11(13):3701. PMID: 35806984.
- Cyr MP, ..., Morin M. Improvements following multimodal pelvic floor physical therapy in gynecological cancer survivors suffering from pain during sexual intercourse: Results from a one-year follow-up mixed-method study. PLoS One. 2022 Jan 25;17(1):e0262844. PMID: 35077479.
- Cyr MP, ..., Morin M. Changes in pelvic floor morphometry and muscle function after multimodal physiotherapy for gynaecological cancer survivors suffering from dyspareunia: a prospective interventional study.Physiotherapy. 2022 Mar;114:54-62. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2021.09.003. PMID:35093737.
- Morin M, ..., Girard I, et al. Transcranial direct current stimulation for provoked vestibulodynia: What roles do psychosexual factors play in treatment response? J Clin Neurosci. 2021 Nov;93:54-60. PMID:34656261.
- Roch M, ..., Morin M. The Female Pelvic Floor Fascia Anatomy:A Systematic Search and Review. Life (Basel). 2021 Aug 30;11(9):900. PMID:34575049.
- Frawley H, Shelly B, Morin M, et al. An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for pelvic floor muscle assessment. Neurourol Urodyn. 2021 Jun;40(5):1217-1260. PMID: 33844342.
- Morin M, Dumoulin C, et al. Multimodal physical therapy versus topical lidocaine for provoked vestibulodynia: a multicenter, randomized trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021Feb;224(2):189.e1-189.e12. PMID: 32818475.
- Dumoulin C, Morin M, et al. Group-Based vs Individual Pelvic Floor Muscle Training to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Oct 1;180(10):1284-1293. PMID:32744599.
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Key submitted publications (under review):
- Starzec-Proserpio M, ..., Morin M. Can we rely on palpation to assess pelvic floor muscle tone? A validity study comparing palpation to ultrasound and dynamometry. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2025. (Submitted)
- Edwards C, ..., Bouchard M-E, ..., Morin M. Pelvic floor dysfunction among female military personnel and Veterans: A scoping review. J Athl Train. 2025. (Submitted)
- Cyr M-P, ..., Morin M, Frawley HC. Effectiveness of conservative treatments on pain and adverse events in females with endometriosis: asystematic review and meta-analysis. AJOG. 2025. (Submitted)
- Starzec-Proserpio M, ..., Girard I, ..., Morin M. Access toAccessto pelvic health physiotherapy services during pregnafollowing childbirthildbirth: A cross-sectional survey. Women’s Health Issues. 2025.(Submitted)
- Quintal I, ..., Morin M. Somatosensory rehabilitation and pain management programs for women withprovoked vestibulodynia: A feasibility and acceptability randomized trial. APRM. 2025. (Submitted)
- BoutilierM, Morin M, Bouchard M-É. Inter-rater reliability of the onset of crowning of the fetal head in thesecond stage of labor. OBGYN. 2025 (Submitted)
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Key book chapters and reports:
- Morin M, et al. 2025. Référentiel des compétences des physiothérapeutes en rééducation pelvi-périnéale au Québec. Ordre professionnel de la physiothérapie du Québec (OPPQ).
- Morin M, Starzec-Proserpio M. Chapitre 7 : La vulvodynie. Médecine de la douleur – Mécanismes physiologiques et pathologiques de la douleur et de l’analgésie. Éditions DUNOD : Ouvrage collectif coordonné par Pierrick Poisbeau et Meggane Melchior. Canada, 2025.
- Frawley H, Morin M. Chapter 9.2: Chronic pelvic pain in Evidence based physiotherapy for the pelvic floor: Bridging research and clinical practice, Third edition. In: Bo K, et al. Elsevier. Philadelphie, 2023.
- Morin M. Chapter: Pelvic floor electromyography in Evidence based physiotherapy for the pelvic floor: Bridging research and clinical practice, Third edition. In: Bo K, et al. Philadelphie, 2023.
- Dumoulin C, ..., Morin M, et al. Chapter 12: Adult Conservative management. International Consultation on Incontinence. 7th Edition, 2023.
- Tu LM, Morin M, Girard N. Chapitre 11 : Troubles urinaires. Guide d’intervention Pratique en Sclérose en plaques. CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec. 2022.
- Bergeron S, ..., Morin M, et al. 2022. La rééducation périnéale et pelvienne pour la prévention et le traitement des dysfonctions du plancher pelvien : Volet 1 – Incontinence urinaire. INESSS.
- Morin M, Girard I. 2021. Algorithme de prise en charge des patientes atteintes de vestibulodynie provoquée. Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux du Québec.
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Key ongoing clinical & research projects
1. Pessary use for prevention of stress urinary incontinence among female CAF members.
Morin M, …, Bouchard M-E, et al.
Stage: Funded by Canadian Forces Health Services (2026-2028), ethics submissions in preparation.
2. Towards optimizing care and improving access to physiotherapy for pelvic health rehabilitation for Québec women with endometriosis: Overview of the situation and recommendations for possible solutions.
Morin M, ..., Bouchard M-E, et al.
Stage: Funded 2025–2026, ethics submission in preparation.
3. Efficacy of dry needling for reducing pain during intercourse in women with provoked vestibulodynia: A multicenter RCT.
Morin M, ..., Bouchard M-E, et al.
Stage: Funded by CIHR (2025–2029), protocol finalized, ethics submission in preparation.
4. Female reproductive health in Canadian Armed Forces – Experience, access to care, and support.
Morin M, ..., Bouchard M-E, et al.
Stage: Funded by Canadian Forces Health Services (2025–2027), ethics submission in preparation.
5. Barriers to access and use of contraception in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), other military forces, and Canadian and Global populations.
Morin M, ..., Bouchard M-E, et al.
Stage: Funded by VAC (2025–2027), review in progress.
6. Efficacy of high intensity laser therapy for reducing pain during intercourse in women with provoked vestibulodynia: A multicenter RCT.
Morin M, ..., Bouchard M-E, et al.
Stage: Completed RCT; data analyses ongoing and manuscript in preparation for submission.
7. LGBTQIA2S+ individuals' perineal and pelvic health needs: understanding them better to respond to them more effectively.
Bernard S, …, Morin M, et al.
Stage: Funded (2024–2025), recruitment ongoing.
Type: Cross-sectional clinical research.
8. Multimodal physiotherapy efficacy for levator ani avulsion–related urinary incontinence.
Morin M, ..., Girard I, Bouchard M-E et al.
Stage: Completed RCT; data analyses ongoing and manuscript in preparation for submission.
9. The effect of crowning time on levator ani muscle avulsion.
Bouchard M-E, Boutilier M, Morin M.
Stage: Recruitment ongoing.
10. Effects of pelvic floor physiotherapy on anorectal symptoms and anal sphincter morphometry in women with OASIS: Results of a randomized clinical trial.
Bouchard M-E, Morais-Savoie C, Morin M.
Stage: Data analyses ongoing and manuscript in preparation.
Type: Interventional clinical research.
11. Do women have access to physiotherapy services for perineal rehabilitation in Québec?
Morin M, ..., Girard I, et al.
Stage: Data analyses ongoing and manuscript in preparation.
