Recent Advances in Understanding Pelvic-Floor Tissue of Women With and Without Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Considerations for Physical Therapists.
Pelvic organ prolapse is a fairly common condition that imposes significant symptoms, diminished quality of life, social burden, financial expense, and surgical risk on women. As evidence supporting the benefit of pelvic-floor muscle training in nonsurgical management of pelvic organ prolapse grows, physical therapists are becoming a provider of choice interacting with women affected by pelvic organ prolapse. This perspective article will review recent research on tissue characteristics of 3 key components of pelvic organ support: skeletal muscle, ligament, and vaginal wall. This information will be summarized as implications for physical therapists. An improved understanding of pelvic-floor tissue in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse will provide a more comprehensive appreciation of the interaction of multiple systems in the disorder.
Kimberly
K
Saunders
D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology