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Comparative analysis of pelvic floor muscle training and Pilates in managing urinary incontinence among postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

This study is aimed at comparing the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and Pilates on the improvement of urinary incontinence (UI), strength, and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs), and the impact of UI on the quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Methods

Forty postmenopausal women were randomly divided in to two groups: PFMT (n = 20) and Pilates (n = 20). The participants were followed for 12 weeks, three times a week on nonconsecutive days. UI was assessed using the pad test and the voiding diary, PFM strength and resistance using bidigital assessment and manometry, and the impact of UI on quality of life using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), before and after the 3-month treatment.

Results

There was a significant intra-group improvement in both groups for the pad test, mean daily urinary loss, and ICIQ-SF. The strength was significantly improved only in the PFMT group, and the endurance in both groups. Peak strength manometry was significantly improved only in the Pilates group, and the mean strength manometry in both groups. There was also an improvement in both groups for peak endurance manometry and mean endurance manometry. In the inter-group comparison, there was a significant improvement only in muscle strength, which was positive for group.

Conclusions

There was no difference between Pilates and PFMT for the management of women in post-menopause with stress urinary incontinence, provided that voluntary contraction of the PFMs is performed. However, further randomized clinical trials need to be carried out.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

ICIQ-SF:

International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form

PFM:

Pelvic floor muscle

PFMT:

Pelvic floor muscle training

SUI:

Stress urinary incontinence

UI:

Urinary incontinence

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Authors' contributions

Sabrina Gonzaga: project development, data collection/management, data analysis, manuscript writing/editing; Raphael Gonçalves de Oliveira: data analysis/statistical analysis, manuscript editing; Letícia Lussi Dutra: project development, data collection/management, manuscript writing/editing; Letícia Siqueira Oliveira: project development, manuscript editing; Laís Campos de Oliveira: data analysis/statistical analysis, manuscript editing.

Funding

This study received no external funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Science Center, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná (UENP), Alameda Padre Magno, Jacarezinho, Paraná, 86400-000, Brazil

    Sabrina Gonzaga, Raphael Gonçalves de Oliveira, Letícia Lussi Dutra, Letícia Siqueira Oliveira & Laís Campos de Oliveira

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  1. Sabrina Gonzaga
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  2. Raphael Gonçalves de Oliveira
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  3. Letícia Lussi Dutra
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sabrina Gonzaga.

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Ethical/institutional review board approval

It was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná (5.264.703).

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Gonzaga, S., de Oliveira, R.G., Dutra, L.L. et al. Comparative analysis of pelvic floor muscle training and Pilates in managing urinary incontinence among postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Int Urogynecol J 35, 561–569 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-023-05712-0

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