title: Pelvic floor muscle exercises utilizing trunk stabilization for treating postpartum urinary incontinence: randomized controlled pilot trial of supervised versus unsupervised training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of supervised and unsupervised pelvic floor muscle exercises utilizing trunk stabilization for treating postpartum urinary incontinence and to compare the outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, single-blind controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen subjects with postpartum urinary incontinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomized to either a supervised training group with verbal instruction from a physiotherapist, or an unsupervised training group after undergoing a supervised demonstration session.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom questionnaire (urinary symptoms and quality of life) and vaginal function test (maximal vaginal squeeze pressure and holding time) using a perineometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The change values for urinary symptoms (-27.22 ± 6.20 versus -18.22 ± 5.49), quality of life (-5.33 ± 2.96 versus -1.78 ± 3.93), total score (-32.56 ± 8.17 versus -20.00 ± 6.67), maximal vaginal squeeze pressure (18.96 ± 9.08 versus 2.67 ± 3.64 mmHg), and holding time (11.32 ± 3.17 versus 5.72 ± 2.29 seconds) were more improved in the supervised group than in the unsupervised group (P < 0.05). In the supervised group, significant differences were found for all variables between pre- and post-test values (P < 0.01), whereas the unsupervised group showed significant differences for urinary symptom score, total score and holding time between the pre- and post-test results (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that exercising the pelvic floor muscles by utilizing trunk stabilization under physiotherapist supervision may be beneficial for the management of postpartum urinary incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Daejeon University, Dong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Suhn-Yeop
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Duck-Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D059825:Physical Therapists; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014563:Urodynamics; D055815:Young Adult