Publication
Title
Pelvic floor awareness and the positive effect of verbal instructions in 958 women early postdelivery
Author
Abstract
Introduction and hypothesis It is uncertain how reliable a personal belief is about the ability to do pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contractions early postdelivery and how instructional feedback affects pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFMC) performance. We hypothesize that many women do not have a reliable idea about PFMC and that instructional feedback can help improve their control. Methods Prospective observational study in 958 women (median 30 years) early postdelivery PFMC was evaluated with visual observation: an inward movement of the perineum was accepted as sign of good contraction. The women who could not show PFMC three consecutive times got verbal instructions, and re-evaluation was afterward. Results In 500 women, no inward movement of the perineum was observed: 275 women (29 %) showed no movement at all, and 225 women (24 %) showed some movement but no inward displacement. In 33.4 %, the personal conviction to be able or not to perform PFMC proved false. After verbal instructions, 74 % improved their PFMC. Conclusions The belief of doing correct PFM contraction was false in at least one of five postpartum women. Verbal instructions have a positive effect on performing PFMC in 73.6 % of women.
Language
English
Source (journal)
International urogynecology journal / International Urogynecological Association. - London, 1990, currens
Publication
London : 2015
ISSN
0937-3462 [print]
1433-3023 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S00192-014-2483-X
Volume/pages
26 :2 (2015) , p. 223-228
ISI
000348922200011
Pubmed ID
25062656
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 09.02.2015
Last edited 09.10.2023
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