Effects of age, parity, and adherence on pelvic muscle response to exercise.
OBJECTIVE
To examine factors that affect pelvic muscle response to 12 weeks of pelvic muscle exercise.


METHODS
Repeated measures design in which intravaginal pressures during pelvic muscle contractions were recorded at baseline and after four exercise levels.


METHODS
College of Nursing research site in Gainesville, Florida.


METHODS
Eighty-five parous, community-dwelling women, aged 35-78 years and without incontinence as a primary concern.


METHODS
A 12-week graded program of regular (three times per week, every other day) pelvic muscle exercise at home.


METHODS
The hypotheses were that younger age, lower parity, higher baseline intravaginal pressures, and adherence to the pelvic muscle exercise program each would result in significant improvement in maximum intravaginal pressures.


RESULTS
The only factor showing significance in predicting a successful outcome was age (t = -2.29, df = 41, one-tail probability = .0136).


CONCLUSIONS
Regular, graded exercise over several weeks is needed to build pelvic muscles, and some women who exercise do not improve. Although the reasons for not improving are unclear, age is a significant factor.
Bishop
K R
KR
Shands Hospital, Gainesville, Florida.
Dougherty
M
M
Mooney
R
R
Gimotty
P
P
Williams
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D015399:Nursing Research; D010298:Parity; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010388:Pelvis; D011312:Pressure; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology