Article

This perspective article explores whether pelvic-floor muscle training (PFMT) for
the management of female urinary incontinence and prolapse is a physical therapy
or a behavioral therapy.
The primary aim is to demonstrate that it is both.
A secondary aim is to show that the plethora of terms used for PFMT is potentially
confusing and that current terminology inadequately represents the full intent,
content, and delivery of this complex intervention. While physical therapists may
be familiar with exercise terms, the details are often incompletely reported;
furthermore, physical therapists are less familiar with the terminology used in
accurately representing cognitive and behavioral therapy interventions, which
results in these elements being even less well reported. Thus, an additional aim
is to provide greater clarity in the terminology used in the reporting of PFMT
interventions, specifically, descriptions of the exercise and behavioral
elements. First, PFMT is described as a physical therapy and as an exercise
therapy informed predominantly by the discipline of physical therapy. However,
effective implementation requires use of the cognitive and behavioral
perspectives of the discipline of psychology. Second, the theoretical
underpinning of the psychology-informed elements of PFMT is summarized. Third, to
address some identified limitations and confusion in current terminology and
reporting, recommendations for ways in which physical therapists can incorporate
the psychology-informed elements of PFMT alongside the more familiar exercise
therapy-informed elements are made. Fourth, an example of how both elements can
be described and reported in a PFMT intervention is provided. In summary, this
perspective explores the underlying concepts of PFMT to demonstrate that it is
both a physical intervention and a behavioral intervention and that it can and
should be described as such, and an example of the integration of these elements
into clinical practice is provided.
CI - (c) 2017 American Physical Therapy Association.

Langue : ANGLAIS