title: A pelvic floor muscle training program in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate if a specific pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program effectively increases pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contractility and decreases anterior pelvic organ prolapse (POP) as well as urogynecological symptoms, in postmenopausal women. The mean outcome measure of this study was the pelvic floor surface electromyography (sEMG) activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical, randomized, blinded-assessor and controlled study was conducted with 46 postmenopausal women. Thirty women completed this study (mean age of 65.93 years), divided into two groups: Treatment Group - TG (n=18) and Control Group - CG (n=12). The evaluation was carried out using digital palpation, sEMG, pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) as well as validated questionnaires by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires to investigate urogynecological symptoms. The treatment protocol consisted of 12 group sessions, twice a week, with 30 min of duration each. These data were then submitted to statistical analyses by the Statistical Analysis System for Windows software, with a significance level of 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pelvic floor muscle contractility increased after PFMT, evaluated by sEMG (p=0.003) and digital palpation (p=0.001), accompanied by a decrease in urinary symptoms (p<0.001 for ICIQ-OAB scores e 0.036 for ICIQ UI-SF) as well as anterior pelvic organ prolapse (p=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study suggests that the applied PFMT program could be an effective way to increase PFM contractility, as well as to decrease both anterior pelvic organ prolapse and urinary symptoms, in postmenopausal women.
authors: Medical Sciences' College in the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil. Electronic address: fabiolakenia@gmail.com.
authors: Fabíola K
authors: FK
authors: Alves
authors: Medical Sciences' College in the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil. Electronic address: cassioriccetto@gmail.com.
authors: Cássio
authors: C
authors: Riccetto
authors: Medical Sciences' College in the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil; Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC MINAS), MG, Brazil. Electronic address: delciabarbosa@gmail.com.
authors: Délcia B V
authors: DB
authors: Adami
authors: Medical Sciences' College in the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil. Electronic address: joseanefisio@hotmail.com.
authors: Joseane
authors: J
authors: Marques
authors: Medical Sciences' College in the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil. Electronic address: lara2502@hotmail.com.
authors: Larissa C
authors: LC
authors: Pereira
authors: Medical Sciences' College in the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil. Electronic address: prof.palma@gmail.com.
authors: Paulo
authors: P
authors: Palma
authors: Medical Sciences' College in the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brazil; Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL/MG), MG, Brazil. Electronic address: simone.botelho@unifal-mg.edu.br.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Botelho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000628:therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Electromyography; Pelvic floor muscle training; Pelvic organ prolapse; Postmenopausal women; Urinary symptoms; Vaginal symptoms