Physiotherapy according to the BeBo Concept as prophylaxis and treatment of urinary incontinence in women after natural childbirth

• Published in: Scientific reports 2021-09, Vol.11 (1), p.18096-18096, Article 18096
• Main Authors: Śnieżek, Aneta, Czechowska, Dorota, Curyło, Marta, Głodzik, Jacek, Szymanowski, Paweł, Rojek, Anna, Marchewka, Anna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/308; 692/700/565/491; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Childbirth & labor; Delivery, Obstetric; Duration of Therapy; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; multidisciplinary; Muscle Strength; Muscles; Natural Childbirth; Pelvic Floor - physiopathology; Pelvis; Perineum; Physical therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Pregnancy; Prophylaxis; Quality of life; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Urinary incontinence; Urinary Incontinence - diagnosis; Urinary Incontinence - physiopathology; Urinary Incontinence - rehabilitation; Urinary Incontinence - therapy; Vagina; Womens health
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96550-x

Pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions can lead to urinary incontinence, a condition which often affects women both during pregnancy and after childbirth. As a result of this, certain exercises are recommended during and after pregnancy to prevent and treat this incontinence, and the BeBo Concept is one of these methods used to prevent pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-week course of physical therapy according to the BeBo Concept on the improvement of perineal muscle strength and endurance as well as urinary continence in women after their first vaginal delivery. The study was conducted on a group of 56 women who were randomly assigned to the exercise (n = 30) or control (n = 26) group. The exercising group participated in a 6-week physical therapy program according to the BeBo Concept. Pelvic floor muscles were assessed using the perineometer and palpation Perfect Test. UDI6 and ICIQ-SF questionnaires were used to obtain information about the symptoms of urinary incontinence, evaluate the frequency, severity and impact of urine leakage on the quality of life. In all women after natural childbirth, regardless of treatment, it was observed that measured parameters improved, but the improvement was slightly more explicit in those who participated in the Bebo Concept exercise group (e.g. ICIQ-SF exercise group p  = 0.001, control group p  = 0.035). Due to its positive impact on the pelvic floor, this exercise program should be recommended to women after natural childbirth.