Dataset Information

Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training, levator ani avulsion and levator hiatus area: a randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction and hypothesis

Vaginal delivery may lead to tearing of the levator ani (LA) muscle from its bony insertions (complete LA avulsion) and increased levator hiatus (LH) area, both risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunctions. Early active rehabilitation is standard treatment after musculo-skeletal injury. We hypothesized that pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) early postpartum would reduce the presence of LA avulsions and reduce LH area.

Methods

We carried out a planned secondary analysis from a randomized controlled study. Primiparous women (n=175) giving birth vaginally were included 6 weeks postpartum, stratified on complete LA avulsion, and thereafter randomized to PFMT or control. The training participants (n=87) attended a supervised PFMT class once a week and performed home-based PFMT daily for 16 weeks. The control participants (n=88) received no intervention. Presence of complete LA avulsion, LH area at rest, maximal contraction, and maximal Valsalva maneuver were assessed by transperineal ultrasound. Between-group comparisons were analyzed by analysis of covariance for continuous data, and relative risk (RR) for categorical data.

Results

Six months postpartum, the number of women who had complete LA avulsion was reduced from 27 to 14 within the PFMT group (44% reduction) and from 28 to 17 within the control group (39% reduction). The between-group difference was not significant, RR 0.85 (95% CI 0.53 to 1.37). Further, no significant between-group differences were found for LH area at rest, during contraction, or Valsalva.

Conclusions

Supervised PFMT class combined with home exercise early postpartum did not reduce the presence of complete LA avulsion or LH area more than natural remission.

SUBMITTER: Hilde G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9870957 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training, levator ani avulsion and levator hiatus area: a randomized trial.

Hilde Gunvor G Stær-Jensen Jette J Siafarikas Franziska F Engh Marie Ellström ME Bø Kari K

International urogynecology journal 20221123 2

<h4>Introduction and hypothesis</h4>Vaginal delivery may lead to tearing of the levator ani (LA) muscle from its bony insertions (complete LA avulsion) and increased levator hiatus (LH) area, both risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunctions. Early active rehabilitation is standard treatment after musculo-skeletal injury. We hypothesized that pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) early postpartum would reduce the presence of LA avulsions and reduce LH area.<h4>Methods</h4>We carried out a planned se ...[more]

PMID: 36418566

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Project description:BackgroundWe believe that physiotherapy with muscle training (MT) of the postpartum pelvic floor may lead to a change in the clinical management of patients with avulsion of the puborectal portion of the levator ani muscle (LAM). Our objective is to assess whether physiotherapy with MT of the postpartum pelvic floor in patients with LAM avulsion produces changes in pelvic floor morphology evaluated by 3/4D transperineal ultrasound.MethodsThis parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT) included 97 primiparous patients. A study was conducted in three parts. In the first part (3 months postpartum), primiparous patients with LAM avulsion were recruited, and the levator hiatus and the LAM areas were measured using 3/4D transperineal ultrasound. In the second part (3 to 6 months postpartum), patients were randomized into two groups, with one undergoing rehabilitation (experimental group) and another without rehabilitation (control group). At the end of 6 months, a new transperineal ultrasound was performed. In the third part (9 months postpartum), the levator hiatus and LAM dimensions were analyzed again. The RCT was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03686956). Project PI16/01387 funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain) integrated in the national I+D+i 2013-2016 and cofounded by the European Union (ERDF/ESF, "Investing in your future").ResultsA total of 92 completed the study, including 46 patients in the experimental group and 46 in the control group. The experimental group had a greater LAM area at 6 months (9.2±1.9 vs. 7.6±2.1 cm2, P=0.008; 95% CI: 0.6-3.0) and 9 months after labor (9.4±2.7 vs. 7.6±2.0 cm2, P=0.012; 95% CI: 0.4-3.2), which was not observed at 3 months postpartum (8.3±1.6 vs. 7.5±2.3 cm2; P=0.183; 95% CI: 0.39-1.99). The levator hiatus area decreased more in the experimental group in almost all comparisons. The most significant change occurred from 3 to 6 months during the Valsalva maneuver (-3.92±5.12 vs. 0.45±3.06 cm2; P<0.005; 95% CI: 2.64-5.00).ConclusionsWomen with a rehabilitated LAM through physiotherapy showed a significant reduction in the levator hiatus area during Valsalva while receiving in-person physical therapy (3 to 6 months after delivery). These differences did not persist once physical therapy was completed (6 to 9 months after delivery).Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03686956.

Project description:BackgroundThere is a risk of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) from baby delivery. Many clinical guidelines recommend pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) as the conservative treatment for PFD because pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) play a crucial role in development of PFD. However, there is disagreement about the method and intensity of PFM training and the relevant measurements. To pilot the study in PFM training, we designed a Pelvic Floor Workout (PEFLOW) for women to train their pelvic through entire body exercises, and we planned a trial to evaluate its effectiveness through comparing the outcomes from a group of postpartum women who perform PELFLOW at home under professional guidance online with the control group.Methods/designThe randomized controlled trial was projected to be conducted from November 2021 to March 2023. A total of 260 postpartum women would be recruited from the obstetrics departments of the study hospital and women would be eligible for participation randomized into experimental or control groups (EG/CG) if their PFM strength are scaled by less than Modified Oxford grading Scale (MOS) to be less than grade 3. Women in EG would perform a 12-week PEFLOW online under the supervision and guidance of a physiotherapist, while women in CG would have no interventions. Assessments would be conducted at enrollment, post intervention (for EG) or 18th to 24th week postpartum (for CG), and 1 year postpartum. Assessment would be performed in terms of pelvic floor symptoms, including MOS, cough stress test, urinary leakage symptoms, pelvic organ prolapse quantitation (POP-Q), and vaginal relaxation, clinic examinations including Pelvic floor electrophysiological test, Pelvic floor ultrasound and Spine X-ray, overall body test including trunk endurance test, handgrip test, body composition test, and questionnaires including International Physical Activity Questionnaire Score-Short Form(IPAQ-SF), Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Questionnaire-20 (PFDI-20), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7), the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Primary analysis will be performed to test our main hypothesis that PEFLOW is effective with respect to strengthen PFM strength.DiscussionThis trial will demonstrate that pelvic floor-care is accessible to most women and clinical practice on PFD may change relevantly should this study find that Online PEFLOW approach is effective to improve PFMs.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05218239.

Project description:BackgroundThe postpartum period is a vulnerable time for the pelvic floor. Early implementation of pelvic floor muscle exercises, appropriately termed as pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), in the postpartum period has been advocated because of its established effectiveness. The popularity of mobile health (mHealth) devices highlights their perceived utility. The effectiveness of various mHealth technologies with claims to support pelvic floor health and fitness is yet to be substantiated through systematic inquiry.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the acceptability, feasibility, and potential effect on outcomes of an mHealth device purposed to facilitate pelvic floor muscle training among postpartum women.MethodsA 16-week mixed methods pilot study was conducted to evaluate outcomes and determine aspects of acceptability and feasibility of an mHealth device. All participants received standardized examination of their pelvic floor muscles and associated instruction on the correct performance of PFMT. Those randomized to the iBall intervention received instructions on its use. Schedules for utilization of the iBall and PFMT were not prescribed, but all participants were informed of the standard established recommendation of PFMT, which includes 3 sets of 10 exercises, 3 to 4 times a week, for the duration of the intervention period. Quantitative data included the measurement of pelvic floor muscle parameters (strength, endurance, and coordination) following the PERFECT assessment scheme: Incontinence Impact Questionnaire scores and the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) scores. Aspects of acceptability and feasibility were collected through one-to-one interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Thorne's interpretive description approach.ResultsA total of 23 women with a mean age of 32.2 years were randomized to an intervention group (n=13) or a control group (n=10). Both groups improved on all measures. The only statistically significant change was the UDI-6 score within both groups at 16 weeks compared with baseline. There was no statistically significant difference between the intervention group and control group on any outcomes. Most participants using the iBall (n=10, 77%) indicated value in the concept of the mHealth solution. Technical difficulties (n=10, 77%), a cumbersome initiation process (n=8, 61%), and discomfort from the device (n=8, 61%) were reasons impeding intervention acceptability. Most participants (n=17, 74%) indicated that the initial assessment and training was more useful than the mHealth solution, a tenet that was echoed by all control group participants.ConclusionsOur pilot study demonstrated the potential for mHealth solution-enhanced PFMT in the early postpartum period. Usability issues in hardware and software hindered feasibility and acceptance by the participants. Our findings can inform the redesign of mHealth solutions that may be of value if acceptability and feasibility issues can be overcome.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02865954; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02865954.

Dataset Information

Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training, levator ani avulsion and levator hiatus area: a randomized trial.

Introduction and hypothesis

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training, levator ani avulsion and levator hiatus area: a randomized trial.

Similar Datasets

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