Investigators plan a prospective cohort study with an adaptive design based on physical function status. The design will involve tracking the number of women recruited with physical function impairment and those without any functional impairment. Investigators aim to recruit similar numbers of women in each group. If investigators find unequal numbers, they will adapt recruit strategies based on a woman's functional status.
Investigators plan a prospective cohort study with an adaptive design based on physical function status. The design will involve tracking the number of women recruited with physical function impairment and those without any functional impairment. Investigators aim to recruit similar numbers of women in each group. If they find unequal numbers, they will adapt recruit strategies based on a woman's functional status. Investigators will compare changes in outcome measures within and between groups after 6 and 12 weeks of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME). The change in pelvic floor strength/efficiency will be assessed by repeating the pelvic floor PERFECT assessment and will be compared between groups. Changes in UI symptoms, symptom severity, and impact of UI symptoms on quality of life will be determined using standardized measures described above. Data analysis will define associations between changes in PERFECT measures and the change in UI episodes (based on 3-day voiding diary), severity, and type (based on QUID-7), and impact on quality of life (PFIQ-7) within and between groups. Objective measurement of lower-extremity strength will inform the relationship between lower-extremity strength, pelvic floor strength, and UI symptoms at baseline and the 6-week visit.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
70
Standardized pelvic floor muscle exercise regimen
Wake Forest Baptist Health
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Number of Urinary Incontinence Episodes
Using a three-day voiding diary
Time frame: Baseline
Number of Urinary Incontinence Episodes
Using a three-day voiding diary
Time frame: week 6
Number of Urinary Incontinence Episodes
Using a three-day voiding diary
Time frame: week 12
Power of Contractions
measurement of strength using perineometer
Time frame: week 12
Endurance
measure of how long they can hold contraction
Time frame: week 12
Repetition of Contractions
how many repetitions can they sustain
Time frame: week 12
Number of Fast Contractions
number of fast contractions that can be repeated
Time frame: week 12
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