title: Influence of parity, type of delivery, and physical activity level on pelvic floor muscles in postmenopausal women.
abstract: [Purpose] The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of parity, type of delivery, and physical activity level on pelvic floor muscles in postmenopausal women. [Subjects and Methods] This was an observational analytic cross-sectional study with a sample of 100 postmenopausal women, aged between 45 and 65 years, divided into three groups according to menopausal stage: hysterectomized and early and late postmenopause. Patients were assessed for sociodemographic and gyneco-obstetric factors and subjected to a muscle strength test and perineometry. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and multiple regression were applied. [Results] The results showed homogeneity in sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics. There was no difference in pelvic floor muscle function among the three groups. Type of delivery, parity and physical activity level showed no influence on muscle function. [Conclusion] The findings demonstrate that parity, type of delivery, and physical activity level had no influence on pelvic floor muscle pressure in postmenopausal women. One hypothesis to explain these results is the fact that the decline in muscle function in postmenopausal women is related to the female aging process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal: Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Ramalho Dantas
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Varella
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal: Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Braga
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal: Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscylla Helouyse Melo
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Angelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal: Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Clara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Eugênia de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal: Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alef Cavalcanti
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Matias de Barros
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal: Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabel de Souza Ramalho
authors.initials: Ede S
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal: Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Thereza de Albuquerque Barbosa Cabral
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Micussi
keywords: Aging; Muscle strength; Physical examination