Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded,
Ingeborg Hoff Braekken1, Memona Majida, Marie Ellström Engh
1Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. ingeborg.brekken@nih.no
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training in reversing pelvic organ prolapse and alleviating symptoms.
Study Design:
This assessor-blinded, parallel group, randomized, controlled trial conducted at a university hospital and a physical therapy clinic randomly assigned 109 women with prolapse stages I, II, and III to pelvic floor muscle training (n = 59) or control (n = 50). Both groups received lifestyle advices and learned "the Knack." In addition, pelvic floor muscle training comprised individual physical therapy sessions and home exercise. Student t test, Mann-Whitney U test, odds ratio, and effect size were used to compare groups.
Results:
Eleven (19%) women in the pelvic floor muscle training group improved 1 Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System stage vs 4 (8%) controls (P = .035). Compared with controls, the pelvic floor muscle training group elevated the bladder (difference: 3.0 mm; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.4; P < .001) and rectum (5.5 mm; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-7.3; P = .022) and reduced frequency and bother of symptoms compared with controls.
Conclusion:
Pelvic floor muscle training is without adverse effects and can be used as treatment for prolapse.
