Augmented Core Breathing Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Patients with Genitourinary Syndrome in Different Phases of Menopause

Pelvic floor muscle has a role in core breathing for twenty-four hours and offers an influence to modulate the lumbar spine and pelvic floor. Several studies reported on pelvic floor muscle strength. Women with genitourinary syndrome do not seek care for their condition and are dismayed to speak with the health care provider about the condition. In the present work, we evaluated the efficiency of augmented core breathing in the genitourinary syndrome of menopause for pelvic floor muscle strength. We tested the role of augmented core breathing efficacy using pelvic floor muscle training in patients with the genitourinary syndrome. Our data revealed significant beneficial effects of core breathing with pelvic floor muscle training and Kegel’s exercise in patients with genitourinary syndrome in different phase of menopause. KEY WORDS: genitourinary syndrome; menopause; pelvic exerciser; pelvic floor muscle training; Utian quality of life scale.

Evaluation of pelvic floor muscles and sexual function in pregnant women: cross-sectional research

The aim of this study was to evaluate pelvic floor functionality and sexual function in pregnant women. The study was characterized as a descriptive and transversal research. The population consisted of 19 pregnant women, living in Parnaíba/PI. The women's assessment instruments were the evaluation and identification form that contained sociodemographic data, clinical history, obstetric and urogynecological data; the NEW PERFECT scheme was used to assess the functionality of the pelvic floor muscles and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to assess sexual function. Mean age was 25.95 (± 3.54) years, mean pelvic floor muscle strength was 2.47 (± 1.28); resistance was 4.31 (± 2.99) seconds; the number of repetitions of the contractions maintained was 2.63 (± 1.6) times; and rapid contractions were 5.05 (± 2.87) contractions. Sexual function according to the FSFI totaled a score of 25.61. In this study, it was possible to infer important deficiencies and limitations regarding strength, coordination, control and activation of the pelvic floor muscles. As in the sexual function domain, the FSFI result indicates possible dysfunctions with an emphasis on the hypoactivity of sexual desire.

Intraspinal Block Anesthesia on Vaginal Delivery Parturients and Its Effect on Postpartum Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength and Immune Function

Objective: At present, intramural block anesthesia is mostly used clinically for vaginal delivery, but it is unclear whether intraocular block anesthesia has an effect on postpartum pelvic floor muscles and immune function after vaginal delivery. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of intraspinal block anesthesia on vaginal delivery parturients and its effect on postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength and immune function.Patients and Methods:A total of 182 parturients with vaginal delivery were selected as the study subjects. They were admitted in our hospital from March 2015 to January 2017. Among them, 92 parturients receiving intraspinal block anesthesia were enrolled in the study group and 90 parturients without intraspinal block anesthesia in the control group. The pelvic floor muscle damage and muscle strength recovery in the two groups were measured 3 months after delivery. The peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets of parturients at different time points in the two groups was detected to investigate the effect of intraspinal block anesthesia on pelvic floor muscle strength and immune function after vaginal delivery. Results: The pain degree during delivery in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.05). The pelvic floor muscle damage, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor function damage and stress urinary incontinence in the study group were all lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). The recovery of postpartum pelvic floor muscle strength in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group(p< 0.05). Both the first and second labor durations in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05).Conclusion:lntraspinal block anesthesia has a better analgesic effect on the vaginal delivery parturients,can effectively shorten the labor. It also has a certain improvement effect on the recovery of postpartum pelvic floor muscle and immune function of parturients.

A prospectively collected observational study of pelvic floor muscle strength and erectile function using a novel personalized extracorporeal perineometer

To investigate the association between pelvic floor muscle strength and erectile function in a prospectively collected observational cohort. 270 male volunteers were prospectively collected and grouped by International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores. Pelvic floor muscle strength was compared. Patients with obvious neurologic deficits, abnormal pelvic bones, history of pelvic radiation therapy, prostatectomy, or urinary incontinence were excluded. We analyzed 247 patients with mean (± standard deviation, SD) age of 62.8 (± 10.1) years. Mean (± SD) maximal and average strength were 2.0 (± 1.5) and 1.1 (± 0.8) kgf, respectively. Mean (± SD) endurance and IIEF-5 scores were 7.2 (± 2.6) seconds and 13.3 (± 7.9), respectively. Patients with IIEF-5 scores ≤ 12 tended to be older, with a higher occurrence of hypertension and lower body mass index. Age [odds ratio (OR) 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.12, p < 0.001], and maximal strength < 1.9 kgf (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.38–4.97, p = 0.003) were independent predictors for IIEF-5 scores ≤ 12 in multivariate regression analysis. Patients with erectile dysfunction were older and showed lower pelvic floor muscle maximal strength. Future prospective trials needed for using physiotherapy are required to verify our results.

Effect of Hypopressive exercise in women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Aim: To study the effect of Hypopressive exercises to improve pelvic floor muscle strength in women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse.(grade 1and 2). Methods: This is an experimental study conducted on women of urban and rural areas of Kamothe and Kalamboli in India who presented with grade 1 and grade 2 Pelvic Organ Prolapse. 20 women (35 years and above) were recruited after taking their consent. The outcome measures assessed during pre and post evaluation were pelvic floor muscle strength as measured by modified oxford scale and perinometer whereas Pelvic Organ Prolapse symptoms by pelvic floor distress inventory scale-20. Intervention consisted of 6-weeks of Hypopressive exercises with a physiotherapist. The protocol consisted of three sessions weekly with progression in each week. Precautions to be taken during the study were explained to the participants each time. Results: Hypopressive exercises presented positive results with statistically significant difference in pre and post evaluation of outcome measures. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test analysis reported p-value of 0.00 for modified oxford scale. For perinometer, p-value for peak, average, duration and gradient was 0.00, 0.00, 0.01 and 0.04 respectively. Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Scale reported p-value of 0.00. Conclusion: Hypopressive exercises exhibited improvements in pelvic floor muscle strength and reducing the symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Investigating Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Women of Reproductive Age and Factors Affecting It

This descriptive study was designed to investigate the pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS) of women aged 18 to 49 years and to examine the factors that may have an effect on PFMS. The study was conducted on 258 women who visited a gynecology outpatient clinic between January 2019 and January 2020, who met the research criteria, and who agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Information Form. The Modified Oxford Scale (MOS) and a perineometer were used to evaluate the PFMS of the women. The mean PFMS value measured using the perineometer was 31.56 ± 12.17 cmH2O (moderate pressure). The PFMS values were 20.00 to 29.9 cmH2O (weak pressure) and 30.00 to 39.9 cmH2O (moderate pressure) in 23.6% of the women, respectively. The PFMS values measured with MOS were of grade 3 strength (moderate pressure) in 23.6% of the women and grade 2 strength (weak pressure) in 23.3%. A statistically significant strong correlation was found between the perineometer measurement and the women’s MOS values. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the PFMS values measured with the perineometer, MOS scores, and women’s age groups, educational status, marital status, employment status, income status, persistent cough, use of nicotine, alcohol and coffee consumptions, chronic constipation, history of frequent urinary tract infections, regular exercise, body mass index, history of pregnancy, mode of delivery, use of episiotomy at birth, perineal rupture at birth, use of forceps vacuum at birth, multiple pregnancies, delivery of a baby weighing ≥4,000 g, treatment during pregnancy, hysterectomy, menopause, frequency of sexual intercourse, and pain during sexual intercourse ( p < .05). We conclude that most of the women in the study had weak to moderate PFMS, that the evaluation of PFMS with the MOS positively overlapped with the perineometric measurements, and that a number of sociodemographic and obstetric variables act as risk factors that affect PFMS. The PFMS of all women should be assessed as part of their routine gynecological examinations.