Does a Kegel Exercise Program Prior to Resistance Training Reduce the Risk of Stress Urinary Incontinence?

Donelle Cross (), Marilynne N. Kirshbaum, Lolita Wikander, Jing-Yu (Benjamin) Tan, Simon Moss and Daniel Gahreman
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Donelle Cross: Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
Marilynne N. Kirshbaum: Research and Innovation, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
Lolita Wikander: Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
Jing-Yu (Benjamin) Tan: Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
Simon Moss: Research and Innovation, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
Daniel Gahreman: Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: This comparative pre–post intervention study investigated the feasibility and benefits of Kegel exercises amongst incontinent women, prior to commencing resistance training (RT), to reduce the risk of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) compared to a group of women without prior Kegel exercises (KE). Incontinence severity index (ISI) score, pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), and body composition (such as body mass index (BMI), fat, and muscle mass), were obtained pre and post intervention. Results demonstrated that RT reduced SUI to a significantly greater extent only if preceded by KE as was observed in the Kegel exercise plus RT group (KE + RT) over time. The improvements in total ISI in both the KE + RT and RT groups were large (d = 1.50 and d = 1.17 respectively). A two-way ANOVA indicated a statistically significant improvement in average PFMS within the KE + RT group over time and between the two groups. A positive correlation was found between the average strength of pelvic floor muscles and SUI. Participants in KE + RT group demonstrated a significant increase in muscle mass ( p ≤ 0.001) and concomitant reduction in fat mass ( p = 0.018). This study determined a dedicated program of KE preceding a RT program improved average pelvic floor muscle strength and was effective in reducing SUI among incontinent women.

Keywords: stress urinary incontinence; resistance training; Kegel; women’s health; pelvic floor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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