Effects of puerperium pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor muscle strength

Abstract

Objective To analyze the effects of puerperium pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor muscle strength and its clinical significance. Methods One hundred postpartum women were included, with full-term singleton pregnancies and with complete follow-up records from Obstetrics Department of Peking University First Hospital between March 1, 2013 and October 31, 2013. Women with vaginal birth and cesarean birth commenced pelvic floor muscle training twice a day from 24 and 72 h after delivery, respectively. According to the different training frequencies, the subjects were divided into three groups: never-training group, occasional-training group (<6 times per week) and regular-training group (≥6 times per week). All patients received pelvic floor muscle strength measurement 6-8 weeks after parturition. And the strength of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ pelvic floor muscle fiber was divided into 0, Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴgrade. The abnormal strength of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ pelvic floor muscle fiber standed for the grades lower than Ⅲ. We compared the general conditions, delivery modes and abnormal ratio of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ pelvic floor muscle fiber among the three groups, analyzed the relativity between the level of pelvic floor muscle fiber strength and pelvic floor muscle training frequency, and analyzed the influential factors of pelvic floor muscle fiber strength. Statistical analyses were performed by one-way ANOVA, rank-sum test, Pearson χ2 test, Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test, Nemenyi test, Spearman rank correlation analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results There was no statistical difference in age, gestation at delivery, parity, body mass index before delivery, neonatal birth weight and delivery mode among the never-training group (21 cases), occasional-training group (30 cases) and regular-training group (49 cases) (all P >0.05). There was no statistical difference in labor time of first, second and total stage and episiotomy rate among the vaginal birth cases of the three groups. The abnormal ratio of typeⅠmuscle fiber strength among the three groups was 100% (21/21), 77% (23/30) and 6% (3/49), respectively, while that of typeⅡmuscle fiber strength was 100% (21/21), 53% (16/30) and 20% (10/49), respectively. And there were significant statistical differences among the three groups (F=119.16 and 77.84, both P<0.01). Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated that the level of typeⅠand typeⅡmuscle fiber strength had a significant positive correlation with pelvic floor muscle training frequency (r=0.88 and 0.79, both P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that pelvic floor muscle training was an influential factor for pelvic floor muscle strength level (95%CI: 0.000-0.193, P<0.01). Conclusions Puerperium pelvic floor muscle training can help enhance the tension force of pelvic floor muscle, might benefiting the postpartum recovery of pelvic floor muscle function. Key words: Postpartum period; Pelvic floor; Exercise therapy; Muscle strength