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Effects of PFM rehabilitation on PFM function and morphology in older women
Author(s) -
Madill Stéphanie J.,
PontbriandDrolet Stéphanie,
Tang An,
Dumoulin Chantale
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.22370
Subject(s) - medicine , pelvic floor muscle , rehabilitation , sagittal plane , pelvic floor , quality of life (healthcare) , repeated measures design , physical therapy , urinary incontinence , surgery , nursing , anatomy , statistics , mathematics
Aims The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) rehabilitation program on incontinence symptoms, PFM function, and morphology in older women with SUI. Methods Women 60 years old and older with at least weekly episodes of SUI were recruited. Participants were evaluated before and after a 12‐week group PFM rehabilitation intervention. The evaluations included 3‐day bladder diaries, symptom, and quality of life questionnaires, PFM function testing with dynamometry (force) and electromyography (activation) during seven tasks: rest, PFM maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), straining, rapid‐repeated PFM contractions, a 60 sec sustained PFM contraction, a single cough and three repeated coughs, and sagittal MRI recorded at rest, during PFM MVCs and during straining to assess PFM morphology. Results Seventeen women (68.9 ± 5.5 years) participated. Following the intervention the frequency of urine leakage decreased and disease‐specific quality of life improved significantly. PFM function improved significantly: the participants were able to perform more rapid‐repeated PFM contractions; they activated their PFMs sooner when coughing and they were better able to maintain a PFM contraction between repeated coughs. Pelvic organ support improved significantly: the anorectal angle was decreased and the urethrovescial junction was higher at rest, during contraction and while straining. Conclusions This study indicated that improvements in urine leakage were produced along with improvements in PFM co‐ordination (demonstrated by the increased number of rapid PFM contractions and the earlier PFM activation when coughing), motor‐control, pelvic organ support. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32:1086–1095, 2013 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.