Effect of pelvic floor muscle training program in reducing postpartum levator hiatus area in Japanese women: A prospective cohort study using three-dimensional ultrasonography.

AIM

To assess the effect of a pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program on postpartum levator hiatus area.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted at a clinic in Japan. Training and control groups were recruited from outpatient pregnant women at two separate time periods. Only the training group underwent the PFMT program, including education for home PFMT, home PFMT, and follow-up instructions. Education for home PFMT was held by 1 month postpartum to acquire the correct contraction of the pelvic floor muscle. Home PFMT was prescribed between 1 and 5 months postpartum; during this period, follow-up instructions were provided to keep the women motivated. Before and after home PFMT, the levator hiatus area was measured using ultrasonography.

RESULTS

In total, 44 women in the training group and 45 in the control group were analyzed. There were 36 women who reached a high adherence to three daily sets of home PFMT. The reduction in the levator hiatus area at rest was not statistically higher in the training group than that in the control group. For the subgroup with high adherence, the reduction in the area at rest was significantly higher by 4.43% in the training group than that in the control group (19.90% vs. 15.49%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the PFMT program did not significantly reduce the postpartum levator hiatus area at rest, performing at least three sets of home PFMT each day significantly reduced the levator hiatus area by 4.43%.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (ID; UMIN 000026188, Date; 17 February 2017).