PELVIC FLOOR REHABILITATION DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY FOR PREVENTION AND TREATING URINARY INCONTINENCE

Nartea Roxana; Nanu Dimitrie; Constantinovici Mariana; Adriana Sarah Nica

Volume : VI, Issue : II, February - 2016

PELVIC FLOOR REHABILITATION DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY FOR PREVENTION AND TREATING URINARY INCONTINENCE

Nartea Roxana, Nanu Dimitrie, Constantinovici Mariana, Adriana Sarah Nica

Abstract :

Introduction Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common type of urinary incontinence (UI) in pregnant and postpartum women and it is known to have a major impact on the quality of life. Perineal rehabilitation by pelvic floor muscle therapy (PFME) is effective for preventing and treating UI, especially if it is initiated during pregnancy. Purpose/Aim This article represents an overview of the biomedical literature regarding the prevalence of urinary incontinence in pregnant and postpartum patients and the influence of the specific pelvic floor muscle exercise in prevention and treatment. Materials and Methods We used PubMedCentral database to identify relevant scientific studies published in medical literature in electronic form and existing international studies on the type, frequency and type of rehabilitation program used in prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence in pregnancy and postpartum. Results We selected 35 studies from the identified articles. We presented an overview of the main assessment methodologies and functional parameters investigated in these studies. Conclusion(s) The most common type of urinary incontinence in pregnant women is stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Prevalence for SUI was variable and increasing with gestational age and parity. During pregnancy and postpartum, conservative therapy by pelvic floor muscle exercise is the first option to treat SUI. Pelvic floor muscle therapy (PFME) is effective in prevention and treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) especially if they are initiated during first period of pregnancy. SUI has long been presumed to be associated with urethral hypermobility. This form of exercise requires perseverance, stretch and effort on the part of women in order to result in effective SUI treatment. Future research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay of pre–pregnancy and pregnancy– related factors in the etiology of UI.