Analysis of the effect of postpartum pelvic floor muscle training in improving pelvic floor function:one-year follow-up

Objective To study the effect of postpartum plevic floor muscle training in improving pelvic floor muscle strength and pelvic floor dysfunction. Methods A total 165 postpartum women 6 weeks after delivery were randomly allocated to a training (n=81) or a control group (n=84). The training group attended a EMG-biofeedback assisted pelvic floor muscle training program, The control group received the customary information.The two groups finished the questionaire and were measured the pelvic floor strength 3 months after delivery,and they finished the questionaire and were measure the pelvic floor strength and did the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system 12 months after delivery. Results At follow-up,pelvic floor muscle strength was significantly higher in the training group than in the control group 3 months after delivery and 12 months after delivery.Significantly fewer women in the training group reported stress urinary incontinence: 2 of 81(2.5%) versus 10 of 84 (11.9%) (P0.05)3 months after delivery and 3 of 81 (3.7%) versus 10 of 84 (11.9%) 12 months after delivery (P0 .05).Significantly fewer women in the training group reported prolapse: 27 of 81(33.3%) versus 41 of 84 (48.8%) (P0.05). Conclusion Pelvic floor muscle strength improves significantly after intensive pelvic floor muscle training. Stress urinary incontinence prevalence decreases and the vaginal former wall prolapse improves.We should pay more attention to the education of pelvic floor health.