The relationship between the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms and waist circumference.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the pressure of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) according to waist circumference (WC) and correlate the presence of urinary tract symptoms (UTS) with WC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was observational and cross-sectional. One-hundred and sixty-four females between 45 and 65 years of age were evaluated. The sample was divided into two groups, according to WC: Group ≤80 (G≤80) was composed of females in whom WC was up to 80 cm; and Group >80 (G>80) was composed of females with WC above 80 cm. The subjects were assessed in terms of sociodemographic data, pre-existing conditions, urogynecological and obstetric history, and the presence of lower UTS (LUTS), as well as physical examination, measurement of WC, height, and weight. The PFM assessment was made by perineometry. To compare the mean between groups, the independent samples t-test was applied, and to correlate the WC with perineometry and LUTS, the Pearson's correlation test was used. RESULTS: The final sample was composed of 156 patients. The average age of participants was 55.21 (±24.5) years in G≤80 and 57.23 (±6.12) years in G>80. There were significant differences regarding the presence of LUTS between the groups (P<0.05); as to the perineometry, there was a significant difference (P=0.03) between the groups: 38.68±13.63 cmH2O for G≤80 and 30.11±11.20 cmH2O for G>80. There was a correlation between the presence of urinary urgency (r=0.7; P=0.00), nocturia (r=0.7; P=0.00), and urinary incontinence (r=0.9; P=0.00) with WC. CONCLUSION: Females with larger abdominal diameter have a higher prevalence of LUTS such as urinary incontinence, nocturia, and urinary urgency, as well as a lower PFM pressure. Furthermore, a relationship between LUTS with WC was also observed.

Nocturia and others urinary symptoms in three stages of postpartum according mode of delivery / Noctúria e outros sintomas urinários nos três estágios do pós-parto conforme o tipo de parto

Introduction: There are risk factors causing urinary symptoms associated with childbirth. The aim was to investigate the presence of urinary symptoms in postpartum. Methods: Prospective cohort study was undertaken. The women were evaluated three times. The first interview was face-to-face at 2 days after the childbirth. At 2 and 8 weeks after delivery, the patients were interviewed by telephone. Results: 132 women were divided into two groups according to the mode of delivery: VG (vaginal delivery group) and CG (cesarean group). The average age of the women was 25.54 (±5.65) years in VG and 25.23 (±5.26) years in CG (p = 0.869). The most frequent symptom in both groups was nocturia. Conclusion: urinary symptoms tend to worsen throughout the postpartum period, regardless of the mode of delivery.

Introdução: Existem fatores de risco para sintomas urinários, que são associados ao parto. O objetivo deste estudo foi investiga a presença de sintomas urinários no pós-parto. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo de coorte prospectivo. As voluntárias foram avaliadas em três momentos. A primeira entrevista foi face-a-face em dois dias após o parto. Com duas e oito semanas após o parto, as pacientes foram avaliadas por telefone. Resultados: 132 mulheres foram alocadas em dois grupos de acordo com o tipo de parto: VG (parto vaginal) e CG (parto cesáreo). A média de idade das mulheres foi 24.54 (±5.65) anos no VG e 25.23 (±5.26) no CG (p = 0.869). O sintoma mais frequente nos dois grupos foi a noctúria. Conclusão: os sintomas urinários tendem a agravar-se ao longo do período de pós-parto, independente do tipo de parto.

Recursos não farmacológicos: atuação da fisioterapia no trabalho de parto, uma revisão sistemática / Non pharmacological resources: physical therapy practice in labor, a systematic review

O trabalho de parto consiste em um evento único e complexo que envolve vários fatores biopsicossociais. A dor experimentada na parturição é uma resposta fisiológica e complexa aos estímulos sensoriais. Objetivo: Realizar revisão sistemática sobre os efeitos dos recursos fisioterapêuticos aplicados para o alívio da dor durante o trabalho de parto. Material e métodos: Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática, buscando artigos nas bases de dados Scielo, Medline, Bireme e Lilacs, com estudos publicados até 2014. Utilizaram-se os Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS) ou sinônimos em português e inglês. Resultados: Foram encontrados 49 artigos e selecionados 13 para análise. A mediana do nível de evidência PEDro foi 8. Foi encontrada uma variedade de intervenções: massoterapia, TENS, exercícios na bola, banho de imersão, exercícios respiratórios, acupuntura, deambulação, mobilidade e banho de chuveiro. Conclusão: Os estudos sugerem que as técnicas fisioterapêuticas investigadas, em sua maioria, contribuíram de forma benéfica para alívio da dor das parturientes. No entanto, alguns achados demonstraram resultados inconclusivos acerca da eficácia das técnicas. (AU)

Introduction: Labor consists of a unique and complex event that involves multiple biopsychosocial factors. The pain experienced during labor is a complex and physiological response to sensory stimuli. Objective: To realize a systematic review about the effects of physical therapy resources applied for pain relief during labor. Methods: It was performed a systematic review searching articles in the Scielo, Medline, Bireme and Lilacs databases, published until 2014. Results: Forty-nine studies were found and thirteen were selected for analysis. The median PEDro score of evidence was 8. A variety of interventions were found: massage therapy, TENS, ball exercises, immersion bath, breathing exercises, acupuncture, ambulation, mobility and shower. Conclusion: Studies suggest that physical therapy techniques researched contributed beneficially to relieve pain of women in labor. However, some findings showed inconclusive results about the effectiveness of the techniques. (AU)

Influence of parity, type of delivery, and physical activity level on pelvic floor muscles in postmenopausal women.

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of parity, type of delivery, and physical activity level on pelvic floor muscles in postmenopausal women. [Subjects and Methods] This was an observational analytic cross-sectional study with a sample of 100 postmenopausal women, aged between 45 and 65 years, divided into three groups according to menopausal stage: hysterectomized and early and late postmenopause. Patients were assessed for sociodemographic and gyneco-obstetric factors and subjected to a muscle strength test and perineometry. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and multiple regression were applied. [Results] The results showed homogeneity in sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics. There was no difference in pelvic floor muscle function among the three groups. Type of delivery, parity and physical activity level showed no influence on muscle function. [Conclusion] The findings demonstrate that parity, type of delivery, and physical activity level had no influence on pelvic floor muscle pressure in postmenopausal women. One hypothesis to explain these results is the fact that the decline in muscle function in postmenopausal women is related to the female aging process.