Effect of Postpartum Pelvic Floor Muscles Training in Pelvic Floor Muscles Strength on Postpartum Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of pelvic floor training (Kegel exercise) on pelvic floor muscle strength in postpartum women with SUI. Methods: Thirty-five birth vaginally postpartum women with SUI were experimentally enrolled. After four weeks of postpartum observation, the diagnosis of SUI confirmed, and all of these women were asked to complete the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Sort Form (ICIQ-SF) questionnaire. The strength of the pelvic floor muscle measured with perineometer every once in 3 weeks for 12 weeks of Kegel exercise. SUI severity assessed with ICIQ-SF after completing the Kegel exercise. A paired t-test was used to compare measurement results between ICIQ-SF questionnaire and perineometer and multiple linear regression models was used for multivariate analysis. A p value of less than 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant. Results: Findings show a significant difference between clinical variables (parity, neonates birth weight, perineal tear grade, BMI) and the improvement of pelvic floor muscles before and after performed the Kegel exercise (all p<0.05). The pelvic floor muscles strength significantly improved (p=0.000) after Kegel exercise both in ICIQ-SF questionnaire and perineometer measurement. Conclusion: Pelvic muscles floor training or Kegel exercise improve pelvic muscles floor strength in postpartum women with SUI. [Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 6-2: 114-118] Keywords: pelvic muscles floor training, postpartum, stress urinary incontinence