Effects of Kegel exercise combined with rational emotive behavior therapy on pelvic floor muscle function and sexual life quality in patients with total hysterectomy: A retrospective study

Abstract

To explore the clinical effects of Kegel exercise combined with rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on the pelvic floor muscle function, medical coping style, and sexual life quality after total hysterectomy. This was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 91 patients were collected in this study: 39 patients in Kegel group (received Kegel exercise alone) and 52 patients in combination group (received Kegel exercise combined with REBT). Propensity score matching (PSM) with 1:1 ratio was conducted to avoid the selection bias. The female sexual function index (FSFI) was used to evaluate and compare sexual life quality. After PSM, 35 patients were in each group (combination vs Kegel). The normal rate of pelvic floor muscle in combination group was significantly higher than that in Kegel group (88.57% vs 54.29%, P = .041). After surgery, the score of confrontation was higher, while the scores of avoidance and acceptance-resignation were lower in combination group compared with those in Kegel group. The postoperative total FSFI score and the scores of all dimensions were higher in combination group than those in Kegel group. In patients with total hysterectomy, Kegel exercise combined with REBT can significantly improve pelvic floor muscle function, medical coping style and sexual life quality. Therefore, it is worthy of clinical application.