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<sec><h3>Objectives</h3><p>To compare pelvic floor muscle strength, severity of urinary incontinence symptoms and health related quality of life between parous and nulliparous women; and to investigate the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in improving symptoms of urinary incontinence and health related quality of life in the previously mentioned two groups.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Materials and methods</h3><p>Initially, 67 women were included in the study. Pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance were evaluated pre-treatment using the Pelvic floor exerciser. Participants were assessed before and after 10 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training by using The International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form for symptoms severity, and The King’s Health Questionnaire for health related quality of life.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3><p>The final sample included 32 participants: sixteen parous and sixteen nulliparous women between 18 and 50 years of age. Before the intervention, parous women (75%) were 2 times more likely to report urinary incontinence than nulliparous women (37.5%). They also had significantly lower pelvic floor muscle strength (p=.001), pelvic floor muscle endurance (p=.001), and more severe symptoms related to urinary incontinence (p=.009). Additionally, parous women had poorer disease specific quality of life in all domains. After the intervention, symptoms severity scores decreased significantly among both parous (p=.007) and nulliparous women (p=.038). Regarding quality of life, both groups had major improvements in all domains.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Our results suggest that urinary incontinence is more common among parous women. They experience more severe symptoms and have lower health related quality of life. Additionally, pelvic floor muscle training seems to be effective for improving symptoms of urinary incontinence and health related quality of life among both parous and nulliparous women.</p></sec>
</abstract>

ObjectivesTo compare pelvic floor muscle strength, severity of urinary incontinence symptoms and health related quality of life between parous and nulliparous women; and to investigate the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in improving symptoms of urinary incontinence and health related quality of life in the previously mentioned two groups.
Materials and methodsInitially, 67 women were included in the study. Pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance were evaluated pre-treatment using the Pelvic floor exerciser. Participants were assessed before and after 10 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training by using The International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form for symptoms severity, and The King’s Health Questionnaire for health related quality of life.
ResultsThe final sample included 32 participants: sixteen parous and sixteen nulliparous women between 18 and 50 years of age. Before the intervention, parous women (75%) were 2 times more likely to report urinary incontinence than nulliparous women (37.5%). They also had significantly lower pelvic floor muscle strength (p=.001), pelvic floor muscle endurance (p=.001), and more severe symptoms related to urinary incontinence (p=.009). Additionally, parous women had poorer disease specific quality of life in all domains. After the intervention, symptoms severity scores decreased significantly among both parous (p=.007) and nulliparous women (p=.038). Regarding quality of life, both groups had major improvements in all domains.
ConclusionsOur results suggest that urinary incontinence is more common among parous women. They experience more severe symptoms and have lower health related quality of life. Additionally, pelvic floor muscle training seems to be effective for improving symptoms of urinary incontinence and health related quality of life among both parous and nulliparous women.

Efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in improving symptoms of urinary incontinence and health related quality of life among parous and nulliparous women

MSc, Department of Kinesiotherapy and Theoretical Disciplines, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport

Assistant professor, PhD, Department of Individual Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport

Lecturer, PhD, Department of Kinesiotherapy and Theoretical Disciplines, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport

Lecturer, PhD, Institute of Physiotherapy and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences

Timisoara Physical Education and Rehabilitation Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

ObjectivesTo compare pelvic floor muscle strength, severity of urinary incontinence symptoms and health related quality of life between parous and nulliparous...

Efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in improving symptoms of urinary incontinence and health related quality of life among parous and nulliparous women

Published Online: Feb 02, 2022

Page range: 36 - 45

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/tperj-2020-0014

Keywords
pelvic floor muscle strength, urinary leakage, pelvic floor exercise, impact of urinary incontinence on daily life

© 2020 Éva Szatmári et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in improving symptoms of urinary incontinence and health related quality of life among parous and nulliparous women

Published Online: Feb 02, 2022

Page range: 36 - 45

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/tperj-2020-0014

Keywordspelvic floor muscle strength, urinary leakage, pelvic floor exercise, impact of urinary incontinence on daily life

© 2020 Éva Szatmári et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
pelvic floor muscle strength, urinary leakage, pelvic floor exercise, impact of urinary incontinence on daily life