| Progressive
Resistive Weight Training to Increase Pelvic Floor Muscle
Activity and Function
Christian EL, Donachy JE
Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL
Purpose:
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a progressive
resistive exercise program using the Feminine Personal
Trainer™ (FPT) for increasing pelvic floor muscle (PFM)
function as measured using intravaginal surface electromyography
(EMG).
Subjects:
Two nulliparous women provided informed consent to participate
in this study. One suffered from urinary stress incontinence.
Methods
and Materials:
A single subject ABA research design was used. Following
the collection of baseline EMG data generated during
maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the PFMs, each
subject was provided a 340 g FPT and instructions in
its use. The exercise program consisted of vaginal lifts
of the FPT held for ten seconds followed by ten seconds
of rest and lifts held for one second followed by one
second of rest, performed three times per week for eight
weeks. The level of resistance was controlled by trunk
position. The number of lifts increased over time to
a maximum of ten of each duration per exercise session.
MVCs of the PFMs were assessed bimonthly throughout
the intervention and at 3, 6 and 12 weeks after exercise
cessation.
Analysis:
Graphic data were analyzed visually for changes from
baseline in PFM MVCs and mean percent changes between
baseline and intervention MVCs were calculated.
Results:
Both subjects demonstrated increases in PFM MVCs showing
a minimum of a 31% increase in mean EMG activity recorded
during the exercise program over mean baseline activity.
Activity decreased after cessation of exercise, returning
to near baseline levels by 12 weeks post-exercise. The
subject who was incontinent reported no leakage episodes
after three weeks of exercise. She remained continent
until 8 weeks after discontinuing PFM exercises, at
which time she reported a recurrence of urine leakage
with lifting activities.
Conclusion:
The increase in PFM activity and function with weight
training followed by return to baseline activity and
function without weight training suggests a direct effect
of progressive resistive exercise on PFMs.
Clinical
Relevance:
This study suggests that progressive resistive
exercises, using a relatively heavy weight three times
per week, can be an appropriate intervention for improving
PFM function and potentially for treating urinary stress
incontinence. Large-scale studies are necessary to confirm
these findings.
Additional Clinical Studies
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