Randomised controlled pilot trial to assess effect of electrical stimulation of weak pelvic floor muscles.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) has level 1A scientific evidence for the treatment of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Past studies, however, have often excluded women with very weak pelvic floor muscles (PFM). The aim was to investigate the hypothesis that intravaginal electrical stimulation (iES) improves PFM strength more than PFMT in women with weak PFM, and to use these results to calculate sample size required for a future large randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Strenuous physical activity, exercise, and pelvic organ prolapse: a narrative scoping review.

Introduction And Hypothesis: High-intensity physical activity and exercise have been listed as possible risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The aim of the present study is to conduct a literature review on the prevalence and incidence of POP in women who engage in regular physical activity. In addition, we review the effects of a single exercise or a single session of exercise on pelvic floor support.

Are hypopressive and other exercise programs effective for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse?

Introduction And Hypothesis: Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is effective for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), but other exercise programs have also been promoted and used. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of hypopressive and other exercise programs besides PFMT for POP.

Methods: A literature search was conducted on Ovid Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, PEDro, and Scopus databases from January 1996 to 30 December 2021.

International urogynecology consultation chapter 3 committee 2; conservative treatment of patient with pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor muscle training.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This manuscript from Chapter 3 of the International Urogynecology Consultation (IUC) on Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) describes the current evidence and suggests future directions for research on the effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in prevention and treatment of POP.

Methods: An international group of four physical therapists, four urogynecologists and one midwife/basic science researcher performed a search of the literature using pre-specified search terms on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in Ovid Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, PEDro and Scopus databases for publications between 1996 and 2021. Full publications or expanded abstracts in English or in other languages with abstracts in English were included.

Reliability, validity and responsiveness of pelvic floor muscle surface electromyography and manometry.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Vaginal surface electromyography (sEMG) is commonly used to assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function and dysfunction but there is a lack of studies regarding the assessment properties. The aim of the study was to test the hypotheses that sEMG has good test-retest intratester reliability, good criterion validity and is responsive to changes compared to manometry.

Methods: PFM resting tone, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and endurance were measured in 66 women with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Pelvic floor muscle training programme in pregnant Nepalese women-a feasibility study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is internationally recommended for prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). However, there is lack of knowledge about PFMT among pregnant Nepalese women. The objectives of this study were to develop a PFMT programme and to assess the feasibility of the programme.

Convergent validity of the Timed Up and Go Test and Ten-metre Timed Walk Test in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain.

Pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain (PGP) often experience functional difficulties, in particular walking difficulties. Currently, however, there is a lack of validated performance-orientated outcome measures available for use in this population. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Ten-metre Timed Walk Test (10 mTWT) are two short-distance walking tests that have demonstrated reliability in pregnant women with PGP, but as yet have no established validity.

Reliability of the Timed Up and Go test and Ten-Metre Timed Walk Test in Pregnant Women with Pelvic Girdle Pain.

Background And Purpose: There is a lack of functional objective tests available to measure functional status in women with pelvic girdle pain (PGP). The purpose of this study was to establish test-retest and intertester reliability of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Ten-metre Timed Walk Test (10mTWT) in pregnant women with PGP.

Methods: A convenience sample of women was recruited over a 4-month period and tested on two occasions, 1 week apart to determine test-retest reliability.

Can pelvic floor muscle training improve sexual function in women with pelvic organ prolapse? A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) has level 1 evidence of reducing the size and symptoms associated with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). There is scant knowledge, however, regarding whether PFMT has an effect on sexual function.

Aim: The aim of the trial was to evaluate the effect of PFMT on sexual function in women with POP.

Are pelvic floor muscle thickness and size of levator hiatus associated with pelvic floor muscle strength, endurance and vaginal resting pressure in women with pelvic organ prolapse stages I-III? A cross sectional 3D ultrasound study.

Aims: To investigate if pelvic floor muscle (PFM) thickness and area of levator hiatus (LH) are associated with manometry measured PFM function in 109 women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) stages I-III.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study pubovisceral muscle thickness and LH area were assessed with three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound at rest and analyzed in the axial plane. PFM function was assessed with manometry and included strength, endurance, and vaginal resting pressure.

Pelvic floor muscle injuries 6 weeks post partum-an intra- and inter-rater study.

Aim: To evaluate intra- and inter-rater reliability when diagnosing major defects, and inter-rater reliability of diagnosing minor defects and muscle thickness of the pubovisceral muscle in primiparous women 6 weeks after vaginal delivery, using 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound.

Methods: Forty primiparous women were assessed using 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound. Volumes were acquired at maximal pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction, and diagnosis of muscle defects were done using tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) of the axial plane.

Impact of childbirth and mode of delivery on vaginal resting pressure and on pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance.

Objective: We sought to study impact of delivery mode on vaginal resting pressure (VRP) and on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and endurance, and whether these measurements differed in women with and without urinary incontinence.

Study Design: We conducted a cohort study following 277 nulliparous women from midpregnancy to 6 weeks postpartum. Manometer was used for PFM measurements; differences were analyzed by t test (within groups) and analysis of variance (between groups).

Continence and pelvic floor status in nulliparous women at midterm pregnancy.

Introduction And Hypothesis: A Cochrane review recommends antenatal pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in urinary incontinence (UI) prevention. The aim of the study was to investigate nulliparous pregnant women's knowledge about and practising of PFMT, their pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function, and ability to contract correctly. It was hypothesized that continent women had higher PFM strength and endurance than women with UI.

Levator hiatus dimensions and pelvic floor function in women with and without major defects of the pubovisceral muscle.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim of present study was to compare pelvic floor morphology and function in women with and without major defects of the pubovisceral muscle.

Methods: One hundred fifty-seven women with pelvic organ prolapse participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants answered a symptom questionnaire and underwent clinical and three- and four-dimensional transperineal ultrasound examination.

The association between pelvic floor muscle function and pelvic girdle pain--a matched case control 3D ultrasound study.

There is uncertainty regarding the association between the function of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and pelvic girdle pain (PGP), and whether exercises to strengthen the PFM should be recommended for patients with PGP. This one-to-one matched case-control study examined whether there is any difference in voluntary PFM function between women with and without clinically diagnosed PGP. PFM function was assessed by manometry and three-dimensional ultrasound.

Can the Paula method facilitate co-contraction of the pelvic floor muscles? A 4D ultrasound study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim was to compare constriction of the levator hiatus (LH) and reduction of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) length during instruction of the Paula method (contraction of ring musculature of the mouth) and contraction of the PFM.

Methods: Seventeen pregnant or postpartum women, mean age 28.6 (range 20-35) participated.

Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.

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.

Test-retest reliability of pelvic floor muscle contraction measured by 4D ultrasound.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to evaluate test-retest measurements of functional aspects of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction using four dimensional (4D) ultrasound.

Methods: Seventeen females preformed three maximal PFM contractions in standing, recorded by 4D real time ultrasound, on two separate occasions.

Results: Very good and good reliability was fond for measurement of: Levator hiatus (LH) area, LH antero-posterior dimension, LH transverse dimension, puborectal muscle length and LH narrowing.

Constriction of the levator hiatus during instruction of pelvic floor or transversus abdominis contraction: a 4D ultrasound study.

A new theory claims that the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) can be trained via the transversus abdominis (TrA). The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of instruction of PFM and TrA contraction on constriction of the levator hiatus, using 4D perineal ultrasonography. Thirteen women with pelvic organ prolapse participated in the study.

Test-retest and intra-observer repeatability of two-, three- and four-dimensional perineal ultrasound of pelvic floor muscle anatomy and function.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate test-retest intra-observer repeatability of ultrasound measurement of the morphology and function of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs). Seventeen subjects were tested twice. Two-, three- and four- dimensional ultrasound recorded cough, huff, muscle morphology and PFM contraction, respectively.

Prevention of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries in elite and adolescent female team handball athletes.

To assess the effect of a neuromuscular training program on the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female team handball athletes, a prospective intervention study of female team handball athletes from divisions I, II, and III in Norway was conducted. The control season (1998-1999) included 60 teams (942 athletes), the first intervention season (1999-2000) included 58 teams (855 athletes), and the second intervention season (2000-2001) included 52 teams (850 athletes). For the intervention teams, a five-phase program (duration, 15 minutes) with three different balance exercises focusing on neuromuscular control and planting and landing skills was developed and introduced to the athletes in the autumn of 1999 and revised before the start of the season in 2000.

Prevention of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female team handball players: a prospective intervention study over three seasons.

Objective: To assess the effect of a neuromuscular training program on the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female team handball players.

Design: Prospective intervention study.

Setting: Female team handball: Division I-III in Norway.