To determine with a randomized controlled trial if the pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy and late puerperium diminish the prevalence of urinary stress incontinence at 28 and 35 gestational week and at 6 weeks after childbirth.
Stress incontinence and pelvic floor exercises in pregnancy.
The research produced mixed findings.
However the studies that spanned a longer time period found no long term effectiveness.
Indeed pelvic floor exercises are used as a first line treatment of ui and when performed in pregnancy have been shown to be protective against incontinence in the third trimester and at 12.
Strengthening the pelvic floor.
Pelvic floor exercises help tighten and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that can improve the function of the urethra and rectal sphincter and help control urinary incontinence.
Kegel exercises are another method that can be used to help control urinary incontinence.
Many factors can weaken your pelvic floor muscles including pregnancy childbirth surgery aging excessive straining from constipation or chronic coughing and being overweight.
You might benefit from doing kegel exercises if you.
Four of the seven studies demonstrated a significant improvement in urinary stress incontinence in postnatal women following pelvic floor muscle exercise during pregnancy.
The pelvic floor exercises have been described for the treatment of urinary stress incontinence.