Risk Factors for Decreased Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength: Which is More Effective?

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether cigarette smoking weakens the pelvic floor and to determine its effective impact relative to other factors.Study Design: Between September 2017 and September 2018, 250 patients admitted to an outpatient gynecology clinic were examined by a single physician and their anamnesis was taken. As a result of the examination, the pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated according to the Modified Oxford Scale and the patients evaluated as 1/5 and 2/5 were grouped as having weak muscle strength and the rest were grouped as having high muscle strength. The intention was then to compare these two groups. The SPSS 21.0 for Windows program was used to perform statistical evaluations. Comparative analysis was performed with regression analysis.Results: 250 women participated in the study. 4 patients had muscle strength of 1/5; while 40 patients had muscle strength of 2/5 (17.6%). Patients with muscle strength of 1/5 and 2/5 were grouped as weak muscle strength. Advanced age, increased parity, smoking, and obesity are risk factors for a decrease in pelvic floor muscle strength (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which of these factors has the greatest impact on pelvic floor muscle strength. Smoking has a 7-fold effect on decreased muscle strength (OR: 7.925) and obesity has a 5-fold impact (OR: 5.374).Conclusion: Although the mechanism of the effect of cigarette smoking on the pelvic floor is not known, it should be remembered that this effect has an adverse impact together with other factors which also have proven detrimental effects.

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The influence of various risk factors on the strength of pelvic floor muscle in women

Vojnosanitetski pregled ◽

10.2298/vsp150420083p ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 74 (6) ◽

pp. 557-563 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Katarina Parezanovic-Ilic ◽

Ljiljana Mladenovic-Segedi ◽

Aleksandra Jurisic-Skevin ◽

Ivana Zivanovic-Macuzic ◽

Vesna Grbovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Pelvic Floor ◽

Pelvic Floor Muscle ◽

Body Height ◽

Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength ◽

Gynecological Diseases ◽

Independent Risk Factors ◽

Sports Activities

Background/Aim. Damage of any element of pelvic floor leads to its functional damages, reflected in the occurrence of urinary incontinence, prolapse of pelvic organs, fecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Basic aim of our paper was to investigate the influence of various risk factors on pelvic floor muscle strength in women. Methods. The study included 90 female patients and examined how age, job, body weight and height, number of deliveries, sports activities, incontinence occurrence, previous prolapse-caused gynecological surgeries, other gynecological surgeries and other conservatively treated gynecological diseases influence the value of pelvic floor muscle strength. Pelvic floor muscle strength was measured using vaginal dynamometer. Results. Univariate regression analysis showed that parameters such as age, demanding job, body height, number of deliveries, sports activities, prolapse-caused gynecological surgeries, other gynecological surgeries and other gynecological diseases were in positive correlation with the values of pelvic floor muscle strength. In multivariate regression model, incontinence and gynecological operation of prolapse were singled out as independent risk factors. Conclusion. If risk factors that cause damage to pelvic floor muscle are known, it is possible to prevent the damages and improve the quality of women's life. This article has been corrected. Link to the correction <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/VSP2007765E">10.2298/VSP2007765E</a>

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