Postpartum Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Women With and Without Injured Pelvic Floor Muscles
NCT ID: NCT01069484
Last Updated: 2016-12-01
Study Results
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View full resultsBasic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
175 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2010-02-28
2013-01-31
Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of postpartum pelvic floor muscle training for primiparous women with and without pelvic floor muscle injury.
Detailed Description
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To date many randomized controlled trials (RCT) have demonstrated significant effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in treatment of stress and mixed urinary incontinence, and it is recommended as first line treatment for stress and mixed UI in women (Level I, Grade A) (Abrams 2010). The effect of postpartum PFMT in prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence is investigated in only four RCTs (Sleep 1987, Meyer 2001, Chiarelli 2001, Ewings 2005) and one matched controlled trial (Mørkved 1997). The results are conflicting. The matched controlled trial by Mørkved (1997) shows the far most effective intervention so far, with 50% less prevalence of UI in the training group. Similar results were found for the same long term effect with 50% less prevalence of UI in the training group with the same long term effect (Mørkved 2000). The high effect size may be explained by the close follow-up and relative high training dosage. However, as this was not a RCT, the effect may be overestimated and the trial is often not included in systematic reviews (Hay-Smith 2008).
Only few research groups have measured PFM function and strength, and there are no studies evaluating possible effects of PFMT on PFM injuries and morphology following pregnancy and childbirth. DeLancey (1996) have suggested that the effect of PFMT would be much higher if we knew the causes of incontinence and were able to include only those with intact pelvic floor muscles. This may be true, but the statement also reflects a belief that muscle injury of the PFM cannot be treated with exercise. However, this is in contrast to common practice in treatment of other skeletal muscles e.g. after sport injuries, where all injuries are treated and it is believed that early mobilization and training is important in speeding up tissue healing (Järvinen 2007). Hence, there is a need to conduct a RCT with high methodological and interventional quality (Herbert 2005) to investigate the effect of postpartum PFMT.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
PREVENTION
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training
Beyond a customary leaflet (received from the postnatal ward) and the thorough initial instruction on how to contract the PFM correctly, the participants are given supervised pelvic floor muscle group training led by physiotherapists once a week. In addition, the participants train every day at home, with at least 3 sets of 8-12 contractions. Training period is 4 months.
Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training
Beyond a customary leaflet and thorough initial instruction on how to contract the PFM correctly, the training participants will attend one weekly supervised exercise class led by an experienced physiotherapist, and perform daily training at home. The intervention starts 6-8 weeks postpartum and last for 4 months. General principles for strength training are followed: 3 sets of 8-12 contractions close to maximum (Bø 1990, Haskell 2007). Emphasis will be on progression in force development. The participants are provided with a DVD of the program (www.corewellness.co.uk). At week 4 during the intervention, the PFM strength will be assessed for each participant. Training adherence at home will be recorded in a training diary, whereas the physical therapist will record group session adherence.
Control
Beyond the customary leaflet (received from the postnatal ward) and the thorough initial instruction on how to contract the PFM correctly, the control group participants received no further intervention. They were not discouraged from doing PFMT on their own.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training
Beyond a customary leaflet and thorough initial instruction on how to contract the PFM correctly, the training participants will attend one weekly supervised exercise class led by an experienced physiotherapist, and perform daily training at home. The intervention starts 6-8 weeks postpartum and last for 4 months. General principles for strength training are followed: 3 sets of 8-12 contractions close to maximum (Bø 1990, Haskell 2007). Emphasis will be on progression in force development. The participants are provided with a DVD of the program (www.corewellness.co.uk). At week 4 during the intervention, the PFM strength will be assessed for each participant. Training adherence at home will be recorded in a training diary, whereas the physical therapist will record group session adherence.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Women giving birth to a healthy singleton baby at term
* Women who speak/ understand Scandinavian language
Exclusion Criteria
* C-section
* Premature birth (\< week 32)
* Prior abortion or stillbirth after 16 weeks of gestation
* Perineal tearing graded as 3b, 3c or 4.
* Illnesses that may interfere with the ability to follow-up
18 Years
50 Years
FEMALE
Yes
Sponsors
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University Hospital, Akershus
OTHER
The Research Council of Norway
OTHER
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Gunvor Hilde
PT, Msc
Principal Investigators
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Kari Bø, Prof,PhD,PT
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Dept of Sports Medicine/Akershus University Hospital, Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Locations
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Akershus University Hospital, Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Lørenskog, Akershus, Norway
Countries
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References
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Abrams P, Andersson KE, Birder L, Brubaker L, Cardozo L, Chapple C, Cottenden A, Davila W, de Ridder D, Dmochowski R, Drake M, Dubeau C, Fry C, Hanno P, Smith JH, Herschorn S, Hosker G, Kelleher C, Koelbl H, Khoury S, Madoff R, Milsom I, Moore K, Newman D, Nitti V, Norton C, Nygaard I, Payne C, Smith A, Staskin D, Tekgul S, Thuroff J, Tubaro A, Vodusek D, Wein A, Wyndaele JJ; Members of Committees; Fourth International Consultation on Incontinence. Fourth International Consultation on Incontinence Recommendations of the International Scientific Committee: Evaluation and treatment of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2010;29(1):213-40. doi: 10.1002/nau.20870. No abstract available.
Ashton-Miller JA, DeLancey JO. Functional anatomy of the female pelvic floor. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Apr;1101:266-96. doi: 10.1196/annals.1389.034. Epub 2007 Apr 7.
Bump RC, Norton PA. Epidemiology and natural history of pelvic floor dysfunction. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 1998 Dec;25(4):723-46. doi: 10.1016/s0889-8545(05)70039-5.
Bø K, Hagen RH, Kvarstein B, Jørgensen J, Larsen S. Pelvic floor muscle exercise for the treatment of of female stress urinary incontinence. III. Effects of two different degrees of pelvic floor muscleexercises. Neurourol Urodyn 9:489-502,1990.
Bo K, Talseth T, Holme I. Single blind, randomised controlled trial of pelvic floor exercises, electrical stimulation, vaginal cones, and no treatment in management of genuine stress incontinence in women. BMJ. 1999 Feb 20;318(7182):487-93. doi: 10.1136/bmj.318.7182.487.
Chiarelli P, Cockburn J. Promoting urinary continence in women after delivery: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2002 May 25;324(7348):1241. doi: 10.1136/bmj.324.7348.1241.
DeLancey JO. Stress urinary incontinence: where are we now, where should we go? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1996 Aug;175(2):311-9. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(96)70140-0.
Ewings P, Spencer S, Marsh H, O'Sullivan M. Obstetric risk factors for urinary incontinence and preventative pelvic floor exercises: cohort study and nested randomized controlled trial. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2005 Aug;25(6):558-64. doi: 10.1080/01443610500231435.
Haskell WL, Lee IM, Pate RR, Powell KE, Blair SN, Franklin BA, Macera CA, Heath GW, Thompson PD, Bauman A. Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 Aug;39(8):1423-34. doi: 10.1249/mss.0b013e3180616b27.
Hay-Smith J, Morkved S, Fairbrother KA, Herbison GP. Pelvic floor muscle training for prevention and treatment of urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Oct 8;(4):CD007471. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007471.
Herbert RD, Bo K. Analysis of quality of interventions in systematic reviews. BMJ. 2005 Sep 3;331(7515):507-9. doi: 10.1136/bmj.331.7515.507.
Jarvinen TA, Jarvinen TL, Kaariainen M, Aarimaa V, Vaittinen S, Kalimo H, Jarvinen M. Muscle injuries: optimising recovery. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Apr;21(2):317-31. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2006.12.004.
MacLennan AH, Taylor AW, Wilson DH, Wilson D. The prevalence of pelvic floor disorders and their relationship to gender, age, parity and mode of delivery. BJOG. 2000 Dec;107(12):1460-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb11669.x.
Meyer S, Hohlfeld P, Achtari C, De Grandi P. Pelvic floor education after vaginal delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 2001 May;97(5 Pt 1):673-7. doi: 10.1016/s0029-7844(00)01101-7.
Morkved S, Bo K. The effect of postpartum pelvic floor muscle exercise in the prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 1997;8(4):217-22. doi: 10.1007/BF02765817.
Morkved S, Bo K. Effect of postpartum pelvic floor muscle training in prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence: a one-year follow up. BJOG. 2000 Aug;107(8):1022-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2000.tb10407.x.
Morkved S, Bo K, Schei B, Salvesen KA. Pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy to prevent urinary incontinence: a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Feb;101(2):313-9. doi: 10.1016/s0029-7844(02)02711-4.
Sleep J, Grant A. Pelvic floor exercises in postnatal care. Midwifery. 1987 Dec;3(4):158-64. doi: 10.1016/s0266-6138(87)80035-9. No abstract available.
Turner CE, Young JM, Solomon MJ, Ludlow J, Benness C. Incidence and etiology of pelvic floor dysfunction and mode of delivery: an overview. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 Jun;52(6):1186-95. doi: 10.1007/DCR.0b013e31819f283f.
Hilde G, Staer-Jensen J, Ellstrom Engh M, Braekken IH, Bo K. Continence and pelvic floor status in nulliparous women at midterm pregnancy. Int Urogynecol J. 2012 Sep;23(9):1257-63. doi: 10.1007/s00192-012-1716-0. Epub 2012 Mar 17.
Hilde G, Staer-Jensen J, Siafarikas F, Gjestland K, Ellstrom Engh M, Bo K. How well can pelvic floor muscles with major defects contract? A cross-sectional comparative study 6 weeks after delivery using transperineal 3D/4D ultrasound and manometer. BJOG. 2013 Oct;120(11):1423-9. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.12321. Epub 2013 Jul 3.
Woodley SJ, Lawrenson P, Boyle R, Cody JD, Morkved S, Kernohan A, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training for preventing and treating urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 May 6;5(5):CD007471. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007471.pub4.
Tennfjord MK, Engh ME, Bo K. The Influence of Early Exercise Postpartum on Pelvic Floor Muscle Function and Prevalence of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction 12 Months Postpartum. Phys Ther. 2020 Aug 31;100(9):1681-1689. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzaa084.
Gluppe SL, Hilde G, Tennfjord MK, Engh ME, Bo K. Effect of a Postpartum Training Program on the Prevalence of Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Phys Ther. 2018 Apr 1;98(4):260-268. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzy008.
Kolberg Tennfjord M, Hilde G, Staer-Jensen J, Siafarikas F, Engh ME, Bo K. Effect of postpartum pelvic floor muscle training on vaginal symptoms and sexual dysfunction-secondary analysis of a randomised trial. BJOG. 2016 Mar;123(4):634-42. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.13823. Epub 2015 Dec 22.
Bo K, Hilde G, Staer-Jensen J, Siafarikas F, Tennfjord MK, Engh ME. Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training and pelvic organ prolapse--a randomized trial of primiparous women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Jan;212(1):38.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.06.049. Epub 2014 Jun 28.
Hilde G, Staer-Jensen J, Siafarikas F, Ellstrom Engh M, Bo K. Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training and urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Dec;122(6):1231-8. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000000012.
Other Identifiers
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2191411
Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT
Identifier Source: secondary_id
2799004
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id