title: [Postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation on prevention of female pelvic floor dysfunction: a multicenter prospective randomized controlled study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation on the improvement of pelvic floor electrical physiological indexes and the prevention of female pelvic floor dysfunction in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter prospective randomized controlled study was carried out. From October 2011, postpartum women in five provinces were randomly assigned into treatment group and control group. The women in treatment group received electrical stimulation and biofeedback treatment. The women in control group performed pelvic floor muscle exercise at home. When 6 months and 12 months after delivery, comparing two groups of patients with pelvic floor electrical physiological indexes and pelvic organ prolapse quantitation measurements (POP-Q), to evaluate the effect of postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation on the prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic floor impact questionnaire short form (PFIQ-7) and pelvic organ prolapse/incontinence sexual questionnaire-12 (PISQ-12) were used to evaluate the influence on quality of life and sexual life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Until June 2013, 324 women were participated, 124 in control group, 200 in treatment group. According to the baseline results, there was statistical significance in the results of pelvic floor electrical physiological indexes between the treatment and control groups in postpartum 6 months and 12 months; the proportion above level III of type I and type II muscle fibers strength in the treatment group, it was from 41.5% (83/200) and 40.5% (81/200) to 76.3% (145/190) and 79.5% (151/190) in postpartum 6 weeks and postpartum 6 months, increased to 80.6% (58/72) and 80.6% (58/72) in postpartum 12 months, improved significantly comparing with the control group (P < 0.01). According to Point Aa, treatment group and control group in the postpartum 6 weeks was (-2.2 ± 0.7) versus (-2.4 ± 0.6) cm, in postpartum 12 months (- 2.5 ± 1.1) versus (- 2.7 ± 0.6) cm, the improvement in treatment group was statistically significant (P < 0.01). And the other points were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the questionnaires in quality of life and quality of sexual life (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and biofeedback therapy in the early postpartum period could obviously improve pelvic floor electrical physiological indexes, and is beneficial to prevent the pelvic floor dysfunction.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
authors: Zhijing
authors: Z
authors: Sun
authors: Email: zhu_julie@sina.com.
authors: Lan
authors: L
authors: Zhu
authors: Jinghe
authors: J
authors: Lang
authors: Yewu
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Guizhi
authors: G
authors: Liu
authors: Xiaochun
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Songzhi
authors: S
authors: Feng
authors: Juxin
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Yuhong
authors: Y
authors: Yao
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Yuanyuan
authors: Y
authors: Su
authors: Guiying
authors: G
authors: Fang
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Yang
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Zhimin
authors: Z
authors: Ma
mesh_terms: D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D002681:China; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome