Impact of pelvic floor muscle training in the postpartum period.
OBJECTIVE
Our study piloted a novel, two-tiered approach to delivering pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) to postpartum women involving a standardized group workshop followed by the opportunity to self-select for individual PFMT sessions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes in women who self-selected for individual PFMT using validated quality of life (QoL) questionnaires, the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7), the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 (PISQ-12), as well as the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS) for strength. Women's satisfaction with the program was also assessed.


METHODS
This was a single-center prospective cohort study conducted between December 2013 and September 2014. Changes from baseline to postintervention QoL and MOS scores were tested using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.


RESULTS
Two hundred and eighteen women attended the workshop, 54 enrolled in PFMT sessions, and 50 completed follow-up. Significant improvements were seen in the PFDI-20 (mean change -41.8, p < 0.001) and PFIQ-7 (mean change -23.0, p < 0.001) questionnaires. Results for the PISQ-12 could not be tabulated, as there were too many missing responses. The MOS score was significantly improved from baseline (4; range {0-5} compared with 3; range {0-4}; p < 0.001). Forty-nine of 50 women's expectations for the program were met [9 of 10; standard deviation (SD) 1.4].


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that a two-tiered, self-selection approach to administering PFMT in the postpartum period contributes to significant improvements in pelvic floor function, QoL, MOS strength, and to high satisfaction rates.
Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, T2N 2T9, AB, Canada. louise-helene.gagnon@albertahealthservices.ca.
Louise-Helene
LH
Gagnon
Division of Urogynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Jodi
J
Boucher
Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Magali
M
Robert
D000328:Adult; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Pelvic floor muscle training; Postpartum; Quality of life