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High-Low Impact Exercise Program Improves Pelvic Floor Muscle Function in Pregnant Women.

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eMediNexus    02 March 2019

The purpose of a new study published in Frontiers in Physiology investigated whether a structured exercise program, including high- and low-impact aerobics, supported by pelvic floor muscle exercises, improves the neuromuscular activity of the pelvic floor, and if these can prevent the deterioration of the quality of life, in terms of urinary incontinence, in healthy pregnant women. This randomized control trial enrolled 97 Caucasian healthy nulliparas in uncomplicated pregnancies (age 30 ± 4 years, 21 ± 5 weeks of gestation). Women were assessed for pelvic floor muscle functions with surface electromyography (EMG) using vaginal probes and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ). Women able to contract pelvic floor muscles and with good quality of life based on IIQ were included. Here, 70 women in the experimental group took part in a supervised exercise program including high-low impact aerobics and pelvic floor muscle exercises three times a week, whereas 27 controls received no exercise intervention. After 6 weeks both groups were re-tested with EMG and IIQ. It was observed that women in the experimental group had improved the neuromuscular activity of the pelvic floor in some motor tasks, without any adverse outcomes of the intervention. In addition, post the exercise program the experimental group was detected with markedly higher EMG amplitude in the pelvic floor muscles during 3-s contractions. A beneficial trend was noted in the increase of neuromuscular activity during 10- and 60-s contractions; however, the changes were not statistically significant. Furthermore, exercising women substantially improved their abilities for relaxation following 3- and 10-s contractions. On the contrary, no statistically significant improvement in either of the motor tasks was found among controls. All participants maintained good quality of life related to urinary incontinence. Hence, it was concluded that prenatal exercise programs that include high- and low-impact aerobics and are supported by pelvic floor muscle exercises should be recommended for pregnant women, especially those who are accustomed to higher exercise intensity before pregnancy. These recommendations can be directed to continent women who can properly contract pelvic floor muscles.

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