Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of supervised and unsupervised pelvic floor
muscle exercises utilizing trunk stabilization for treating postpartum urinary
incontinence and to compare the outcomes. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blind
controlled study. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation hospital. SUBJECTS: Eighteen
subjects with postpartum urinary incontinence. Interventions: Subjects were
randomized to either a supervised training group with verbal instruction from a
physiotherapist, or an unsupervised training group after undergoing a supervised
demonstration session. MAIN MEASURES: Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom
questionnaire (urinary symptoms and quality of life) and vaginal function test
(maximal vaginal squeeze pressure and holding time) using a perineometer.
RESULTS: The change values for urinary symptoms (-27.22 +/- 6.20 versus -18.22
+/- 5.49), quality of life (-5.33 +/- 2.96 versus -1.78 +/- 3.93), total score
(-32.56 +/- 8.17 versus -20.00 +/- 6.67), maximal vaginal squeeze pressure (18.96
+/- 9.08 versus 2.67 +/- 3.64 mmHg), and holding time (11.32 +/- 3.17 versus 5.72
+/- 2.29 seconds) were more improved in the supervised group than in the
unsupervised group (P < 0.05). In the supervised group, significant differences
were found for all variables between pre- and post-test values (P < 0.01),
whereas the unsupervised group showed significant differences for urinary symptom
score, total score and holding time between the pre- and post-test results (P <
0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that exercising the pelvic floor
muscles by utilizing trunk stabilization under physiotherapist supervision may be
beneficial for the management of postpartum urinary incontinence.

Langue : ANGLAIS