Diaphragmatic Breathing With and Without Abdominal Muscles Strength Training Program

Quality of Life Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of Diaphragmatic Breathing With and Without Abdominal Muscles Strength Training Program on Pelvic Floor Strength, Endurance and Quality of Life in Postnatal Women

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05474469
• Other study ID #: REC/RCR & AHS/22/0509
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 1, 2022
• Est. completion date: August 10, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: December 2022
• Source: Riphah International University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The postpartum period is excessively weak and have hypotonic abdominal muscles, making the ligaments and connective tissue softer and more elastic. The importance of exercise in the postpartum period is very important in this regard.

This study will be a Randomized control trial used to compare the effects of diaphragmatic breathing with and without abdominal muscles strength training program on pelvic floor strength and endurance and quality of life in postnatal women. Subjects meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be divided into two groups using lottery method. Assessment will be done using PERFECT scheme questionnaire and SF- 36 quality of life questionnaire. Subjects in one group will receive diaphragmatic breathing exercises along with pelvic muscle strength training and subjects in other group will receive only diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Each subject will receive 12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks. Results will be analyzed for any change by using SPSS25.

Description:

The postpartum period is excessively weak and have hypotonic abdominal muscles, making the ligaments and connective tissue softer and more elastic. These changes result in anatomical, physiological and biomechanical alterations. Therefore, these factors are responsible for the lack of necessary support for the waist region, pain, disability and negative impact on health-related quality of life. The importance of exercise in the postpartum period is very important in this regard. Postnatal exercises have several benefits such as improving pelvic floor strength and endurance and quality of life and increasing the general well-being, preventing the diastasis of the rectus Abdominis muscle (RAM) increasing cardiovascular endurance and bone mineral density.

This study will be a Randomized control trial used to compare the effects of diaphragmatic breathing with and without abdominal muscles strength training program on pelvic floor strength and endurance and quality of life in postnatal women. Subjects meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be divided into two groups using lottery method. Assessment will be done using PERFECT scheme questionnaire and SF- 36 quality of life questionnaire. Subjects in one group will receive diaphragmatic breathing exercises along with pelvic muscle strength training and subjects in other group will receive only diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Each subject will receive 12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks. Results will be analyzed for any change by using SPSS25.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 74
• Est. completion date: August 10, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: August 1, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 20 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 20 to 35 years.

• Women between 2 to 6 months post-natal.

• Women with stable somatic state.

• Women with no cognitive dysfunction.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women with respiratory problems.

• Women with severe back pain.

• Patients with any pelvic pathology

• Patient with any previous neurological disorders

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Muscle Weakness
• Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness
• Quality of Life
• Respiratory Aspiration

Intervention

Other:
• Diaphragmatic breathing exercises
12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks period, which consisted of 03 treatment sessions per week.
• Abdominal muscle strengthening exercises
12 treatment sessions for 4 weeks period, which consisted of 03 treatment sessions per week.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Pakistan	Islamic Center Sialkot	Sialkot	Punjab

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Riphah International University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Pakistan, 

References & Publications (5)

Ashton-Miller JA, DeLancey JO. Functional anatomy of the female pelvic floor. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Apr;1101:266-96. doi: 10.1196/annals.1389.034. Epub 2007 Apr 7. — View Citation

Bernardes BT, Resende AP, Stupp L, Oliveira E, Castro RA, Bella ZI, Girao MJ, Sartori MG. Efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training and hypopressive exercises for treating pelvic organ prolapse in women: randomized controlled trial. Sao Paulo Med J. 2012;130(1):5-9. doi: 10.1590/s1516-31802012000100002. — View Citation

Gursen C, Inanoglu D, Kaya S, Akbayrak T, Baltaci G. Effects of exercise and Kinesio taping on abdominal recovery in women with cesarean section: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016 Mar;293(3):557-65. doi: 10.1007/s00404-015-3862-3. Epub 2015 Sep 2. — View Citation

Janakiraman B, Gebreyesus T, Yihunie M, Genet MG. Knowledge, attitude, and practice of antenatal exercises among pregnant women in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2021 Feb 19;16(2):e0247533. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247533. eCollection 2021. — View Citation

Oliveira MC, Oliveira M, Silva H, Gomes A, Nascimento G, Marini G, Micussi MT. Evaluation of satisfaction of pelvic floor muscle training isolated and associated with tibial nerve stimulation in women with mixed urinary incontinence: A randomized, single-blinded clinical trial. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2021 Oct;265:60-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.06.024. Epub 2021 Jun 24. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	PERFECT scheme questionnaire	The term PERFECT stands for power (or pressure), endurance (E), repetitions (R), rapid contractions (F), and lastly, every contraction timed (ECT). The Pelvic Floor Muscle Assessment Scheme was created to streamline and explain the process. This program may provide suggestions for developing patient-specific exercise plans that correspond to the principles of muscle training."	4 Weeks
Primary	SF-36 quality of life questionnaire	Physical functioning (PF), role physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RE), and mental health (MH) are the eight scales that the SF-36 measures. Different amounts from each scale do go into the scoring of the PCS and MCS measures.	4 Weeks