Exercise Interventions to Improve Pelvic Floor Muscle Function in Older Women

Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy

*FREE ACCESS* Exercise interventions to improve pelvic floor muscle functioning in older women with urinary incontinence: a systematic review

Fricke, Anja MSc; Lark, Sally D. PhD; Fink, Philip W. PhD; Mundel, Toby PhD; Shultz, Sarah P. PhD

Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training is known to be an effective intervention to reduce urinary incontinence, but less is known about the specific methods of PFM training that can improve patient outcomes. A systematic review was performed in order to examine PFM function and its impact on urinary incontinence for women 50 years and older.

The review found that all strengthening exercises improved participant symptoms, but it was found that the strategy of implementation mattered. Below are some key strategies found to improve pelvic floor muscle exercise intervention efficacy:

1. The use of digital palpation vs biofeedback was found to lead to greater and quicker improvements in symptoms 
2. Supervised exercises vs home exercises ensuring correct pelvic floor muscle activation and/or coordination lead to greater symptoms improvement

Click here to read the *FREE ACCESS* systematic review and discover intervention strategies to optimize patient outcomes.