title: Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. ingeborg.brekken@nih.no
authors.forename: Ingeborg Hoff
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Braekken
authors.forename: Memona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majida
authors.forename: Marie Ellström
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Engh
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bø
mesh_terms: 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*