title: Trainability of the pelvic floor. A prospective study during pregnancy and after delivery.
abstract: The contractibility and trainability of the pelvic floor were investigated during pregnancy and after vaginal delivery in 86 healthy primiparae. One group (TG) (n = 38) was instructed in training the pelvic floor from the 33rd week of pregnancy, whereas the other group (non-TG) (n = 39) was not. Both groups were measured by perineometry five times between 33rd-39th week of pregnancy and approximately 8 weeks after delivery. Half of the women were also measured 8 months post partum. At the beginning of the study both groups showed the same strength of the pelvic floor. 8 weeks and 8 months after delivery the TG were significantly (p less than 0.05) better able to contract the pelvic floor compared with the non-TG. 8 months post partum, the TG had regained the initial values of pelvic floor contraction as from 33rd week of pregnancy, whereas the non-TG had not. During pregnancy there was a better ability to contract the pelvic floor in the TG vis-à-vis the non-TG, though not significantly so. No difference in the course of delivery was observed, and the frequency of complications was the same in the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Holbaek Central Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sigsgaard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tolstrup
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Danneskiold-Samsoee
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology*; D010502:Perineum / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies