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Effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises in the treatment of urinary incontinence during pregnancy and the postpartum period

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercises on urinary incontinence during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Methods

The study was carried out on 80 pregnant women (study group, 40 subjects; control group, 40 subjects).The study group was trained by the researcher on how to do the pelvic floor muscle exercises. Both groups were evaluated for pelvic floor muscle strength and urinary complaints in their 36th to 38th week of pregnancy and postpartum sixth to eighth week.

Results

The study group had a significant decrease in urinary incontinence episodes during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, and their pelvic floor muscle strength increased to a larger extent. Control group had an increase in the postpartum muscle strength and decrease in the incontinence episodes in the postpartum period.

Conclusions

Pelvic floor muscle exercises are quite effective in the augmentation of the pelvic floor muscle strength and consequently in the treatment of urinary incontinence.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Research Fund of the University of Istanbul (project number T-126/11112002). We would like to thank to Associate Professor Halim Issever and Professor Dr. Rian Disci who are members of the School of Medicine in Istanbul University for their contributions in the statistical analyses.

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Correspondence to Ayten Dinc.

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Brief Summary

Pelvic floor muscle exercises are quite effective in the augmentation of the pelvic floor muscle strength and consequently in the treatment of urinary incontinence.

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Dinc, A., Kizilkaya Beji, N. & Yalcin, O. Effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises in the treatment of urinary incontinence during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Int Urogynecol J 20, 1223–1231 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0929-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0929-3

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