Effectiveness of Hypopressive Exercises Versus Pelvic-perineal Physiotherapy

Summary

Introduction: Hypopressive Exercises are included within a method of physiotherapy which was created with the purpose of strengthening the deep muscles of the abdomen without damaging ligamentous and muscular structures of the perineum, also strengthening the muscles of pelvic floor reflexively. Although this technique has been included as treatment and a prevention method of pelvic floor dysfunction, there are few studies supporting its benefits. The investigators hypothesis is that the combination of both physiotherapy treatments will provided the best results for women who suffer pelvic floor dysfunctions.

Objective: To determine whether Hypopressive Exercises are an option to include in the physiotherapy treatment of women suffer at least one pelvic floor dysfunction and whether the results reported are comparable to those provided by pelvic-perineal physiotherapy.

Subjects and methods: A randomized clinical trial, the examiner being blinded unaware of the intervention group to which subjects were assigned. Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups:

1. An experimental group, where the participants will be treated by Hypopressive exercises and hygienic and behavioral measures;
2. Another experimental group where pelvic-perineal physiotherapy will join with Hypopressive exercises and hygienic and behavioral advises;
3. And a third group where will be done pelvic-perineal physiotherapy and hygienic and behavioral measures.

Pre- intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3, 6 and 12 months assessments will be made. The selection criteria will be: adult women who present signs and symptoms that indicate a pelvic floor dysfunction or have a medical diagnosis to confirm it. All participants must understand and sign freely Informed Consent.

Sample size: Accepting an alpha risk of 0.05 and a beta risk of 0.2 in a bilateral contrast, 26 subjects were required in each group to detect a difference equal to or greater than 3 microvolts (Total of 78 subjects). It assumes a standard deviation of 4.8 microvolts and the rate of loss to follow up esteem 20% (Magalhães-Resende et al. 2012).

Data Analysis: A descriptive analysis of all variables was performed. It establish for all cases a confidence level of 95% (p \<0.05). The effectiveness was assessed by comparing the experienced change of the three goups in outcome variables between physicaltherapy examinations.

Conditions

• Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Urinary Incontinence
• Fecal Incontinence
• Pelvic Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Hypopressive exercises

45 minutes treatment by hipopressive exercises 2 times per week during 8 weeks. They will be doing in different positions: standing, kneeling, sitting and lying. The patient will be teach a total of 30 exercises. In the week number 8 the women with the physical therapist will choose 3 exercises that will be done daily at home during 20 minutes.

BEHAVIORAL

Therapeutic education.

The therapeutic education will be doing during the 8 weeks of treatment. In the first day the knowledge and the briefs of the pelvic floor dysfunction will be assessed. Dietary and behavioral habits will also be discussed. In the second day anatomical and physiological explanation of the pelvic girdle will be the priority. In the third day will be explained the signs and symptoms of the different pelvic floor dysfunctions. In the four day will be analyzed the risk factors that may cause or worsen pelvic floor dysfunctions. In the fifth day will be begun to correct the bad habits. In the last day will be reviewed the knowledge and new habits acquired during the treatment. In all treatment days will be discussed the doubts of the participant.

OTHER

Pelvic-perineal physiotherapy

45 minutes physical therapy treatment 2 times per week during 8 weeks. There will be done specific exercises of the pelvic floor muscles and coordination exercises of the pelvic floor muscles with other muscles in different positions. Electrostimulation, biofeedbak, cones and dinamometric devices can be employed to improve the muscle performance.

OTHER

Physical Therapy assessment

Pre-treatment, post-treatment, 3, 6 and 12 months after physical therapy treatment. Will be done a specific evaluation of pelvic floor muscles using the Modified Oxford Scale, superficial electromyography, perineometry and dynamometer. For the evaluation of the impact, the signs and the symptoms questionnaires will be completed by the participants.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alcala

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Beatriz N Navarro, PhD student · University of Alcala

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-10-31

Primary Completion

2017-09-30

Completion

2020-03-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations