1. Transabdominal ultrasonography-guided biofeedback training for pelvic floor muscles integrated with stabilization exercise improved pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain and disability: a randomized controlled trial.
- Author
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Kuo YL, Lin KY, Wu MH, Wu CH, and Tsai YJ
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Adult, Pregnancy, Single-Blind Method, Pregnancy Complications rehabilitation, Pregnancy Complications diagnostic imaging, Ultrasonography, Pain Measurement, Postpartum Period, Pelvic Floor diagnostic imaging, Biofeedback, Psychology methods, Exercise Therapy methods, Pelvic Girdle Pain rehabilitation
- Abstract
Objectives: Investigate effects of integrated training for pelvic floor muscles (PFM) with and without transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) imaging-guided biofeedback in postpartum women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP)., Design: Three-arm, single-blinded randomized controlled trial SETTING: University laboratory PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-three postpartum women with PPGP randomized into stabilization exercise with TAUS-guided biofeedback (BIO+EXE), exercise (EXE), and control (CON) groups., Interventions: The BIO+EXE and EXE groups underwent an 8-week exercise program, with the BIO+EXE group receiving additional TAUS-guided biofeedback for PFM training during the first 4 weeks. The CON group only received a pelvic educational session., Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcomes included self-reported pain (numeric rating scale) and disability (pelvic girdle questionnaire). Secondary outcomes included functional tests (active straight leg raising [ASLR] fatigue, timed up-and-go, and 6-meter walking tests) and muscle contractibility indicated by muscle thickness changes for abdominal muscles and bladder base displacement for PFM (ultrasonographic measures)., Results: The BIO+EXE group had lower pain [1.8 (1.5) vs. 4.4 (1.5), mean difference -2.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) -3.9 to -1.2] and disability [14% (10) vs. 28% (21), mean difference -14, 95% CI -25 to -2] and faster walking speed [3.1 seconds (1) vs. 3.3 seconds (1), mean difference -0.2, 95% CI -1.0 to -0.2] than the CON group. The EXE group only had lower pain intensity compared to the CON group [2.7 (2.0) vs. 4.4 (1.5), mean difference -1.7, 95% CI -3.1 to -0.4]. No significant differences were observed among groups in timed up-and-go, ASLR fatigue, or muscle contractibility., Conclusions: Integrated training for PFM and stabilization with TAUS-guided biofeedback seems to be beneficial for reducing pain and disability in postpartum women with PPGP. CONTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER., (Copyright © 2024 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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