1. Antenatal pelvic floor muscle training and urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled 7-year follow-up study.
- Author
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Stafne SN, Dalbye R, Kristiansen OM, Hjelle YE, Salvesen KÅ, Mørkved S, and Johannessen HH
- Subjects
- Exercise Therapy methods, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Pregnancy, Prenatal Care, Treatment Outcome, Pelvic Floor, Urinary Incontinence epidemiology, Urinary Incontinence therapy
- Abstract
Introduction and Hypothesis: Urinary incontinence is common postpartum. Our aims were to assess whether antenatal exercise including pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) has long-term effects on urinary incontinence (UI) and to explore factors associated with UI 7 years postpartum., Methods: A follow-up of a two-centre randomized controlled trial performed at St. Olavs Hospital and Stavanger University Hospital, Norway. In the original trial women were randomized to a 12-week structured exercise protocol including PFMT or standard antenatal care during pregnancy. Link to an electronic questionnaire was sent by postal mail 7 years postpartum. Prevalence of UI was assessed with Sandvik severity index and compared between groups. Factors associated with UI were studied using multivariable logistic regression analysis., Results: The response rate was 35% (298/855). UI was reported by 78 (51%) in the intervention group and 63 (57%) in the control group (p = 0.539). In the multivariable logistic regression analyses, women with UI at inclusion had a five-fold increase in odds of UI at 7 years (OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.6, 11.5). Engaging in regular exercise was not significantly associated with UI at 7 years; however, UI was associated with lower exercise intensity (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2, 4.6)., Conclusions: We found no group differences of antenatal exercise including PFMT on UI after 7 years among the responders. UI in pregnancy increased the risk of long-term UI. Regular exercise was not associated with UI at 7 years; however, women with UI were more than twice as likely to exercise at lower intensity than continent women., (© 2021. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2022
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