Pelvic floor muscle training decreases hip adductors isometric peak torque in incontinent women: an exploratory study

Abstract

Introduction: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training is the most common treatment for urinary incontinence(UI), however many women performed the contraction of PFM with associated contraction of abdominal, gluteus and hip adductors muscles. Objective: To assess the effects of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training on isometricand isokinetic hip adductors peak torque (PT) among women suffering from urinary incontinence (UI). Materials and methods: It is a longitudinal and prospective exploratory study. This study included 15 physically active women aged 45 years old and over, who presented complaints of UI. The PFM function (digital evaluation and perineometry), isometric and isokinetic hip adductors PT and one hour pad test were performed before and after treatment. The PFM training was performed in group, one hour once a week for 12 sessions. Results: Significant improvement of PFM function and pressure level (p = 0.003), and significant decrease of hip adductors isometric PT and one-hour pad test, were found post-treatment. Moderate negative correlations between PFM contraction pressure and hip adductors isokinetic PT for dominant side (DS) (r = -0.62; p = 0.03) and non-dominant side (NDS) (r = -0.64; p = 0.02); and between PFM fast fibers contraction and hip adductors isometric PT for DS (r = -0.60; p = 0.03) and NDS (r = -0.59; p = 0.04) were also found. Conclusions: The PFM training decreased hip adductors PT and improved PFM functions and UI.