Women's knowledge, practises, and intentions regarding correct pelvic floor exercises.
OBJECTIVE
Although research has demonstrated the efficacy of pelvic floor exercises (PFXs) for the prevention and treatment of female urinary incontinence (FUI), adherence to PFX regimens is commonly poor. There is some evidence that this finding is in part due to a lack of knowledge about how to perform PFXs correctly and misconceptions about the required frequency and duration of PFX regimens.


METHODS
By using a sample of 720 postpartum women, this study investigates women's PFX regimens both before and during pregnancy and postpartum.


RESULTS
Findings demonstrated that most women were aware of the required frequency for PFXs (at least every second day): just over half had done them this often during pregnancy and 91% intended to do so postpartum. However, few had done them at this level before pregnancy and less than half knew that PFXs should be carried out indefinitely throughout the lifetime. Moreover, only two thirds were confident that they were doing PFXs correctly.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that, despite good knowledge of the required frequency of PFXs, few women practise them regularly over their lifetime, many apparently perceiving PFXs as relevant only to the childbirth years. Implications for health professionals in addressing these gaps in women's knowledge and practises are discussed.
Chiarelli
Pauline
P
School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. pauline.chiarelli@newcastle.edu.au
Murphy
Barbara
B
Cockburn
Jill
J
D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*