출산후 생기는 요실금과 질압의 약화에 대한 골반근육강화운동의 효과에 대하여 보고되고 있다.
노르웨이의 Morkoved등이 발표한 바에 의하면 164명의 환자를 대상으로 출산후 84명은 골반근육강화운동을 시행하고 84명은 시행하지 않은 후  1년후 요실금이 생기는 비율이 시행 받지 않은 환자 군에서는 19%였으나 시행받은 환자군에서는 2%정도로 매우 낮게 관찰 되었으며,질압도 시행받은 환자군에서 4.4Cm/H20로 시행받지 않은 군의 1.5Cm/ H2O에 비하여 매우 높은 것으로 나타났다.

Authors
Morkved S. Bo K.

Title
Effect of postpartum pelvic floor muscle training in prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence: a one-year follow up.

Source
BJOG(British journal of Obsterics and Gynecology) 107(8):1022-8, 2000 Aug.

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long term effect of a postpartum pelvic floor muscle training course in prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence. DESIGN: A prospective matched controlled trial. SAMPLE: AND METHODS: All women who had participated in a matched controlled study evaluating the effect of an eight-week pelvic floor muscle training program in prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence in the immediate postpartum period were contacted by telephone one year after delivery. They were invited to participate in a follow up study. The study group consisted of 81 matched pairs (n = 162), with a mean age (range) 28 years (19-40), and mean number (range) of deliveries 1.8 (1-5). Seventy-six pairs had normal vaginal deliveries and five elective caesarean sections. Registration of continence status was by structured interview and a standardised pad test. Clinical assessment of pelvic floor muscle function and strength were by vaginal palpation and vaginal squeeze pressure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Stress urinary incontinence. RESULTS: At the one year follow up, significantly more women in the former control group than in the training group reported stress urinary incontinence and/or showed urinary leakage at the pad test (P < 0.01). A significantly greater (P < 0.01) muscle strength increase in the period between 16th week and one year postpartum was demonstrated in the former training group (mean 4.4 cm H2O, 95% CI 3.2-5.6) than in the control group (mean 1.7 cm H2O, 95% CI 0.8-2.7). CONCLUSION: This one year follow up study demonstrates that a specially designed postpartum pelvic floor muscle training course was effective in the prevention and treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The benefits from pelvic floor muscle training are still present one year after delivery.