Synergistic effects of traditional Chinese medicine practices and pelvic floor muscle training on postpartum stress urinary incontinence

Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of integrating Qigong with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for managing mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in postpartum women. The hypothesis was that the combined intervention would lead to better outcomes compared to PFMT alone by addressing both physical and psychological aspects of recovery.

Methods:

A 12-week intervention was conducted, where postpartum women with mild to moderate SUI were divided into three groups: standard PFMT (PFMT group), Qigong combined with PFMT (QGPFMT group), or Qigong-only (QG group). The study assessed pelvic floor muscle function, severity of symptoms and psychological well-being using various validated measures, including the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7), the Urinary Distress Inventory-6, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores.

Results:

The QGPFMT group significantly improved pelvic floor muscle activity, urinary incontinence frequency, and the UDI-6 scores. However, the groups had no significant differences regarding psychological well-being measures, such as the IIQ-7 and PSS scores.

Conclusions:

The integration of Qigong with PFMT provides a promising holistic approach for managing postpartum SUI. While physical improvements were significant, psychological improvements may require a longer duration or additional psychological interventions to be fully realized. Future studies should consider the combination of psychological therapies to improve the overall efficacy of treatment for postpartum women with SUI.