Application of Breathing Training in Postpartum Stress Urinary Incontinence / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of breathing training on postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI) based on pelvic floor muscle exercise and biofeedback electrical stimulation. Methods From July to October, 2017, 64 SUI patients at the sixth week after childbirth were randomly divided into con-trol group (n=32) and observation group (n=32). The control group was treated with pelvic floor muscle exercise and biofeedback electrical stimulation. The observation group was supplemented with breathing training addition-ally. The pelvic floor muscle myoelectric value, urinary incontinence frequency, one hour urine pad test and the average thickness of the transversus abdominis were evaluated before and twelve weeks after treatment. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the pelvic floor muscle myoelectric value, urinary incon-tinence frequency, one hour urine pad test and the average thickness of the transversus abdominis between two groups (P>0.05). Twelve weeks after treatment, the pelvic floor muscle myoelectric value significantly increased in both groups (t>12.564, P<0.001), and was higher in the observation group than in the control group (t=14.064, P<0.001); the urinary incontinence frequency and the positive rate of one hour urine pad test significantly de-creased in both groups (Z>9.615, P<0.001), and were lower in the observation group than in the control group (Z=-2.767, χ2=6.564, P<0.05); the average thickness of the transversus abdominis had no improvement in the control group (t=-1.510, P>0.05), and significantly increased in the observation group (t=-10.681, P<0.01), which was higher in the observation group than in the control group (t=7.541, P<0.001). Conclusion On the basis of pelvic floor muscle exercise and biofeedback electrical stimulation, supplementation with breathing training could reduce the symptoms of postpartum stress urinary incontinence, and improve the func-tion and the quality of life.