Comparison of pelvic floor muscle training isolated and associated with weight loss: a randomized controlled trial

To analyze whether pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) associated with weight loss (WL) is better than isolated PFMT to provide additional beneficial effects to urinary symptoms in women with MUI.

A randomized, simple-blind parallel controlled trial was performed and included women with MUI aged between 40 and 65 years and body mass index between 25 and 40 kg/m². The sample was randomized into two groups: 11 PFMT + WL and 11 PFMT. Data collection was performed in baseline and after interventions. The primary outcome was to investigate the loss of urine. Secondary aim includes PFM pressure and quality of life. PFMT was performed with two sets of eight repetitions in the first 4 weeks, and with three sets of eight repetitions in the final 4 weeks. The weight loss program was based on the calculation of total energy value needs. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 20.0 software and one-way ANCOVA.

22 volunteers participated in the study. There was no intergroup significant difference in post-intervention ICIQ-SF F(1, 19) = 7.115, p = 0.87, partial η² = 0.001; manometry F(1, 19) = 0.608, p = 0.44, partial η² = 0.003; pad test 1 h F(1, 19) = 0.185, p = 0.67, partial η² = 0.01; QoL F(1, 19) = 1.018, p = 0.32, partial η² = 0.05; and weight F(1, 19) = 0.251, p = 0.62, partial η² = 0.01.

Weight loss did not provide additional beneficial effects to PFMT in women with overweight or obesity grade I with MUI symptoms.