Effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises in the treatment of urinary incontinence during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Dinc
Ayten
A
Sisli Health High School, Istanbul, Turkey. aytendinc@hotmail.com
Kizilkaya Beji
Nezihe
N
Yalcin
Onay
O
D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult