Pelvic floor rehabilitation in patients with levator ani muscle avulsion

Objective: To determine if physiotherapy treatment applied to patients with levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion identified after a vaginal delivery, reduces the LAM hiatus area. Material and Methods: A prospective observational study of 52 nulliparous (26 in the experimental and 26 in the control grou...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: García Mejido, José Antonio, Suárez Serrano, Carmen, Medrano Sánchez, Esther Mª, Bonomi Barby, María José, Armijo Sánchez, Alberto, Sáinz Bueno, José Antonio
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2020
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositório:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/158553
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/158553
https://doi.org/10.31083/J.CEOG.2020.03.5252
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Pelvic floor muscle training
Levator ani muscle avulsion
Postpartum physiotherapy
Descrição
Resumo:Objective: To determine if physiotherapy treatment applied to patients with levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion identified after a vaginal delivery, reduces the LAM hiatus area. Material and Methods: A prospective observational study of 52 nulliparous (26 in the experimental and 26 in the control group). We included patients with LAM avulsion, diagnosed by 3-4D/transperineal ultrasound performed 3 months after delivery. Patients in the experimental group underwent a program of pelvic floor exercises, assisted by biofeedback and lumbopelvic stabilization exercises. Assessment of LAM was carried out at 6 and 9 months postpartum, using 3-4D/transperineal ultrasound, and taking the following measurements: levator hiatus area at rest, during Valsalva and at maximum contraction; LAM area, and thickness of right and left LAM. Results: Patients in the experimental group presented a reduction in the levator hiatus area at rest (17.0, 15.7, 15.9 cm2 ), during Valsalva (23.0, 20.8, 19.9 cm2 ) and at maximum contraction (15.6, 14.4 and 13.5 cm2 ), in comparison with patients in the control group, who presented a levator hiatus area at rest of 17.4, 17.2 and 16.8 cm2 , during Valsalva of 21.0, 20.8 and 20.3 cm2 , and at maximum contraction of 16.6, 16.1 and 15.6 cm2 , at 1, 6 and 9 months postpartum respectively (P < 0.05). However, no changes were appreciated in the successive examinations regarding LAM area between study groups: experimental 9.5, 8.9, 9.6 cm2 versus 8.9, 9.0, 9.2 cm2 in the control group. Conclusions: Physiotherapy treatment based on pelvic floor exercises with lumbopelvic stabilization exercises in patients with LAM avulsion reduces the levator hiatus area at rest, during Valsalva and at maximum contraction.