The Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscles Exercise on Stress Urinary Incontinence in Postpartum Women in Alzahra and Taleghani Educational Medical Center 1999-2000.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Urinary incontinence is a distressing and disabling condition, presented with involuntary loss of urine objectively. It effect on social, psychological, occupational, domestic, physical and sexual aspects of life and is a social or hygienic problem for sufferers, also it has serious cost implications for them and health services. Childbearing is believed to be a major predisposing factor for urinary incontinence. There is considerable epidemiologic evidence that implicate pregnancy and delivery can result in incontinence; especially stress incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence is one of the most common problem during pregnancy and postpartum. Pelvic muscles exercise as the first treatment line has recommended for stress urinary incontinence and its efficacy has been shown in non-pregnant women frequently, but researches about it in pregnancy and postpartum are few and accompany with controversy result. Investigator has performed this study to assess the effect of postpartum exercise on stress urinary incontinence and there is hope, this study due to next investigation on this field. Method & Material: This evaluation is an experimental study, which is performed in order to assess the effect pf pelvic muscles exercise on stress urinary incontinence. Target community was consisted of all delivered women which hospitalized in postpartum units of Alzahra and Taleghani Hospital of Tabriz University and had stress urinary incontinence signs during pregnancy. Sampling was in convenience or Accidental method, and samples was categorized in control or experimental group, every other day. Samples size was 54 matched (n=108) of mother in both groups. Data collecting method was interview and study of patient’s file. Data collecting instrument was a self- constructed questionnaire about incontinence signs. Pelvic muscles exercise was trained only to the experimental group but the control group has not received any training about it. Both groups followed up 6 & 12 week postpartum. Results: Assessment and comparing of signs at 6 and 12 week postpartum showed that there is a significant difference in frequency of leakage between two groups (6 week: p=0.001, 12 week: p=0.04). Group differences in stress related leakage and amount of leakage were observed (the experimental group had further decrease in these signs than did controls), but these differences were not statistically significant. Discussion: The results of this study showed that postpartum pelvic muscles exercise until 6 & 12 weeks, in experimental groups, Leeds to further decreasing frequency of leakage, statistically, and further decreasing stress related leakage amount, seemingly. Regarding to these result health care providers especially midwives can recommend this exercise in the postpartum period.