The Effects of Postpartum Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Improvement of Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength and Relief of Urinary Incontinence

Objective: To study the effect of postpartum pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor muscle strength and pelvic floor function.Methods: A total of 144 puerpera were investigated who were randomly divided into training group(group T,n=71) and control group(group C,n=73).Women in group T attended apelvic floor muscle training program in 6 weeks after delivery including biofeedback and electric stimulation for one course.Women in group C received customary healthy instruction.Questionaires about general state of health and urinary incontinence were carried out among women in the two groups in 6 weeks and 3 months respectively after delivery.The pelvic floor strength was measured and graded according to pelvic organ prolapse quantification system(POP-G).Results: The pelvic floor muscle strength of women in group T was significantly higher than that of women in group C in 3 months after delivery.The differences of incidence rates of stress urinary incontinence and prolapseⅠbetween group T(2.8% and 32.3%) and group C(12.3% and 49.3%) were significant(P0.05 and P0.05) in 3 months after delivery.Conclusions: Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training could improve pelvic floor muscle strength and decrease the incidence of stress urinary incontinence.