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Effects of pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy
Claudia de Oliveira1, Marco Antonio Borges Lopes, Luciana Carla Longo e Pereira
1Department of Obstetrics, São Paulo University, Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Objective:
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in 46 nulliparous pregnant women.
Methods:
The women were divided into 2 groups: an exercise group and a control group. Functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscle was performed by digital vaginal palpation using the strength scale described by Ortiz and by a perineometer (with and without biofeedback).
Results:
The functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles showed a significant increase in pelvic floor muscle strength during pregnancy in both groups (P < .001). However, the magnitude of the change was greater in the exercise group than in the control group (47.4% vs. 17.3%, P < .001). The study also showed a significant positive correlation (Spearman's test, r = 0.643; P < .001) between perineometry and digital assessment in the strength of pelvic floor muscles.
Conclusions:
Pelvic floor muscle training resulted in a significant increase in pelvic floor muscle pressure and strength during pregnancy. A significant positive correlation between functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscle and perineometry was observed during pregnancy.
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