Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training in reversing pelvic organ prolapse and alleviating symptoms.


METHODS
This assessor-blinded, parallel group, randomized, controlled trial conducted at a university hospital and a physical therapy clinic randomly assigned 109 women with prolapse stages I, II, and III to pelvic floor muscle training (n = 59) or control (n = 50). Both groups received lifestyle advices and learned "the Knack." In addition, pelvic floor muscle training comprised individual physical therapy sessions and home exercise. Student t test, Mann-Whitney U test, odds ratio, and effect size were used to compare groups.


RESULTS
Eleven (19%) women in the pelvic floor muscle training group improved 1 Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System stage vs 4 (8%) controls (P = .035). Compared with controls, the pelvic floor muscle training group elevated the bladder (difference: 3.0 mm; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.4; P < .001) and rectum (5.5 mm; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-7.3; P = .022) and reduced frequency and bother of symptoms compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Pelvic floor muscle training is without adverse effects and can be used as treatment for prolapse.
Braekken
Ingeborg Hoff
IH
Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. ingeborg.brekken@nih.no
Majida
Memona
M
Engh
Marie Ellström
ME
Bø
Kari
K
D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D009664:Norway; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*