Pelviperineal Physiotherapy in Postpartum (PT-POSTPARTO)

University of Alcala

Status: Completed

Conditions: Post Partum

Treatments: Behavioral: Educational strategy; Other: PFM training; Other: HE

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03247660

PI17/01449 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

21/2013

Details and patient eligibility

About

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of pelviperineal physiotherapy hypopressive exercise, and pelvic health education for the prevention and treatment of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction in primiparous women after vaginal delivery.

Full description

Design: Randomized, controlled and single blinded clinical trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of these groups: Experimental group: pelviperineal physical therapy plus pelvic health education and training in the Knack manoeuvre; Experimental group II: hypopressive exercises plus pelvic health education and training in the Knack manoeuvre; Control group: pelvic health education, training in the Knack manoeuvre, and general recommendations for pelvic floor muscle exercises at home. In the 3 groups several physical therapy assessments will be undertaken: 1st before intervention, 2nd immediately after completing intervention; 3th, 4th, 5th and 6th after 3, 6 and12 months. Study subjects: Postnatal women (6 and 8 weeks after vaginal delivery), primiparous, whose vaginal delivery has occurred in the "PrÍncipe de Asturias" Hospital, which have not been already treated for pelvic floor dysfunction, and after reading, understanding and freely signing an informed consent form. Sample size: The sample size was calculated a priori using the PFDI-20 as the primary outcome. Based on a clinically meaningful between-group difference of 20 points and an SD of change of 31.2 points, 55 participants per group were required. A total of 165 participants were randomized (55 per group). Data analysis: A descriptive analysis will be performed for all variables. Intervention effects will be assessed using linear mixed-effects models for change from baseline, including group, time, and group-by-time interaction as fixed effects, with adjustment for the centered baseline value of the outcome and a participant-specific random intercept. A two-sided significance level of 0.05 will be used.

Enrollment: 165 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Postnatal women (6 and 8 weeks after vaginal delivery)
• Primiparous
• Whose vaginal delivery has occurred in the "Príncipe de Asturias" Hospital
• Women have not been already treated for pelvic floor dysfunction
• Women reading, understanding and freely signing an informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• Postnatal women with medical diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) prior to pregnancy and delivery
• Women with a history of conservative treatment or PFD surgery
• Women with concomitant or systemic disease that may affect the treatment (neurological, gynecological, urological or connective tissue), or with active or recurrent urinary infection without treatment at the time of the intervention proposed in this study, or hematuria.
• Women with perineal pain preventing vaginal dynamometry.
• Postnatal women with cognitive impairment or insufficient Spanish-language proficiency preventing adequate understanding of study procedures.
• Women with severe maternal complications or serious neonatal conditions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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165 participants in 3 patient groups

Pelviperineal physiotherapy (PP) group

Experimental group

Description:

An individualised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) programme will be applied. Participants will performed PFM exercises in the way proposed by the PERFECT scheme. Biofeedback exercises will be also performed in lithotomy position. If the evolution of the women will allow it, the last two treatment biofeedback sessions will be conducted in standing position, to train PFM in more challenging and functional situation. Active intravaginal electrical stimulation will also be applied when PFM strength was \<3 on the Modified Oxford Scale. Participants also received pelvic health education, standardised instruction in the Knack manoeuvre, and an individualised home exercise programme. Educational strategy will also be applied. The intervention will last 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week. Each session will last 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: HE

Other: PFM training

Behavioral: Educational strategy

Hypopressive exercices (HE) group

Experimental group

Description:

Women will be instructed in thirty-three Hypopressives exercises (HE) described by the developer of the Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastics, Dr. Caufriez plus pelvic health education, standardised instruction in the Knack manoeuvre, and individualised home practice were also provided. The intervention will last 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week. Each session will last 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Other: HE

Behavioral: Educational strategy

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The educational strategy will consist of instruction of printed materials and dimensional anatomical models about the anatomy of the pelvic floor and the physiology of the pelvic organs. It will be recommended to avoid risk factors, such as gaining weight, weight lifting, high impact sports, constipation, smoking, or drinking too much caffeine. They will also instruct in toilet habits, standardised instruction in the Knack manoeuvre, and general recommendations for PFM exercise at home. No supervised or individualised PFMT or hypopressive exercise was provided. The intervention will last 8 weeks, 1 session per week. Each session will last 50 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Educational strategy