Effects of an 8‐week pelvic core stability and nutrition community programme on maternal health outcomes

Abstract

Introduction Women, during the antenatal and post‐partum period, report pelvic, low back pain, stress and urge urinary incontinence, colorectal dysfunction, and other co‐morbidities that negatively affect health‐related quality of life. Exercise and nutrition are important considerations for improving maternal health in this period. Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a community‐driven nutrition and exercise programme focused on pelvic floor and core stability, healthy nutrition, and breastfeeding counselling over an 8‐week period on pelvic floor and urinary distress (UDI), prolapse and colorectal distress for antenatal and post‐partum women with limited access to health care, and low socio‐economic resources from a Midwestern Region of the United States. Materials and methods Purposive sample of 35 females, ages 18–44, were recruited for this prospective, preintervention to postintervention study, following ethical approval from Institutional Review Board and voluntary written consent from participants. The Health History Questionnaire, SF‐36, Food Frequency Questionnaire, report of pelvic organ prolapse dysfunction (POPDI), colorectal‐anal dysfunction (CRADI), and UDI as measured by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) were completed before and after intervention. Results Thirty‐five women (n = 35) 18 to 44 years old (mean age of 22.72 ± 3.45 years) completed the study. A significant difference was found from preintervention to postintervention scores means for PFDI total scores, CRADI individual scores, and UDI individual scores (p < .05). POPDI scores decreased preintervention to postintervention but were not significant. A significant improvement in healthy nutrition and breastfeeding postintervention was also found (z = 3.21, p = .001). Further analysis showed significant, but weak, correlation between parity and POPDI (r = .366, p = .033); between parity and UDI (r = .384, p = .03); and between parity and PFDI (r = .419, p = .014). Discussion Our study found a significant reduction in pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary, and colorectal‐anal distress symptoms and improvement in breastfeeding and healthy nutrition following an 8‐week community‐driven nutrition and exercise programme focused on pelvic floor and core stability, healthy nutrition, and breastfeeding counselling.

Effectiveness of game‐based core exercise in children with non‐neuropathic bladder dysfunction and comparison to biofeedback therapy

“…At least 8 weeks of regular and intense training are required for the development of hypertrophy in the pelvic floor muscles and ensuring neuronal adaptation 11,12 . Previous studies in the relevant literature have also applied 8‐week exercise programs for pelvic floor training 13‐15 . These exercises were carried out with the researcher who is a physiotherapist.…”

“…10 The patients were divided into groups as follows: group I, "those 11,12 Previous studies in the relevant literature have also applied 8-week exercise programs for pelvic floor training. [13][14][15] These exercises were carried out with the researcher who is a physiotherapist. In the study, exercises to strengthen the core muscles were performed.…”

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training versus Functional Magnetic Stimulation for Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…While exercising, attention was paid to correct breathing patterns. Body positions were changed progressively from supine to side-lying, sitting, and quadruped [41]. The intensity level was customized for each participant and based on their functional capacity.…”

The role of visceral therapy, Kegel’s muscle, core stability and diet in pelvic support disorders and urinary incontinence — including sexological aspects and the role of physiotherapy and osteopathy

“…They also contract first (faster than global stabilizers), meaning that they are not responsible for the transfer of motor control to global stabilizers. Their contraction does not depend on the direction of movement to which the human body is subjected, and they do not have the corresponding antagonistic muscles [8].…”

“…A properly selected nutrition plan reduces the dysfunction of the pelvic floor [8]. It is highly recommended for family doctors, gynecologists and geriatricians to prescribe diet therapy (with the guidance of a dietitian) to women with a tendency to be constipated and obese, especially in women at risk of prolapse of the genital organs.…”