Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy-An International Journal

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Abdominal Versus Pelvic Floor Muscles Exercises in Mild Stress Urinary Incontinence in Obese Egyptian Women


Affiliations
1 Department of Physical Therapy for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt
2 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical & Health Sciences, Ahlia University, Bahrain, Iran, Islamic Republic of
3 Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
     

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Objective

To compare the benefits of 12 weeks abdominal and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) strength training for mild stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in obese women.

Design

A randomized control trial with three months follow up.

Subjects

Thirty female obese patients with mild SUI.

Intervention

Abdominal exercises (Abd. ex's) group (n=15) received specific exercises for transversus abdominis and internal obliqus muscles. Whereas, pelvic floor exercises (PF ex's) group (n=15) received pelvic floor exercises. Main outcome measures Vaginal pressure, leak point pressure (LPP) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were measured for both groups at three intervals (baseline, 12 weeks of intervention and 3months follow up i.e. 24 weeks from the start of the study).

Results

Both abdominal and pelvic floor groups showed a significant increase in vaginal pressure after 12 weeks of intervention (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.021 respectively) and at follow up (P< 0.0001 and P < 0.009 respectively) compared to baseline. This effect was greater for Abd. ex's group at 12 weeks (P < 0.041) and at follow up (P < 0.022) when compared with PF ex's group. Also, both abdominal and pelvic floor groups showed a significant increase in LPP after 12 weeks of treatment (P < 0.001 and P < 0.008 respectively) and at follow up (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.007 respectively) compared to baseline; there were no significant differences between the two groups at these time points.

Conclusion

Overall, the results of this study suggest that 12 weeks of abdominal muscles strengthening training has superior effects compared to pelvic floor strength training for mild SUI in obese patients.


Keywords

Urinary Incontinence, Obesity, Pelvic Floor, Abdominal, Exercise
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  • Abdominal Versus Pelvic Floor Muscles Exercises in Mild Stress Urinary Incontinence in Obese Egyptian Women

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Authors

Dalia M. Kamel
Department of Physical Therapy for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt
Ali A. Thabet
Department of Physical Therapy for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt
Sayed A. Tantawy
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical & Health Sciences, Ahlia University, Bahrain, Iran, Islamic Republic of
Mohamed M. Radwan
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract


Objective

To compare the benefits of 12 weeks abdominal and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) strength training for mild stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in obese women.

Design

A randomized control trial with three months follow up.

Subjects

Thirty female obese patients with mild SUI.

Intervention

Abdominal exercises (Abd. ex's) group (n=15) received specific exercises for transversus abdominis and internal obliqus muscles. Whereas, pelvic floor exercises (PF ex's) group (n=15) received pelvic floor exercises. Main outcome measures Vaginal pressure, leak point pressure (LPP) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were measured for both groups at three intervals (baseline, 12 weeks of intervention and 3months follow up i.e. 24 weeks from the start of the study).

Results

Both abdominal and pelvic floor groups showed a significant increase in vaginal pressure after 12 weeks of intervention (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.021 respectively) and at follow up (P< 0.0001 and P < 0.009 respectively) compared to baseline. This effect was greater for Abd. ex's group at 12 weeks (P < 0.041) and at follow up (P < 0.022) when compared with PF ex's group. Also, both abdominal and pelvic floor groups showed a significant increase in LPP after 12 weeks of treatment (P < 0.001 and P < 0.008 respectively) and at follow up (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.007 respectively) compared to baseline; there were no significant differences between the two groups at these time points.

Conclusion

Overall, the results of this study suggest that 12 weeks of abdominal muscles strengthening training has superior effects compared to pelvic floor strength training for mild SUI in obese patients.


Keywords


Urinary Incontinence, Obesity, Pelvic Floor, Abdominal, Exercise

References