Preventing pelvic floor dysfunction with standard and reflexive pelvic floor exercises in addition to global postural re-education

Our study was designed to protect pelvic floor health and prevent pelvic floor dysfunction in healthy desk-working women who are prone to postural disorders and have high risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction. The aim was to compare the effects of standard and reflexive pelvic floor exercises given in addition to Global Postural Reeduction training on the power (P), endurance (E) and fast contraction (F) of pelvic floor muscles. In this single-blind randomised cross-sectional study, a total of 41 female participants working at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University and without pelvic floor dysfunction were included in two groups. The first group (21 participants) performed reflexive pelvic floor exercises in addition to Global Postural Reeduction, while the second group (20 participants) performed standard pelvic floor exercises. Participants performed Global Postural Reeducation training 1 day a week for 12 weeks and pelvic floor exercises every day. After the initial evaluation, they were re-evaluated at the 6th and 12th weeks. Demographic Information Collection Form, Questionnaires, New York posture assessment test, Electromyography (EMG) and digital palpation were used in the evaluation methods. Participants in Group 1 showed a significant decrease in adipose tissue at both the 6th and 12th week. Significant changes in New York posture assessment scores were observed in both groups over time. The P value of pelvic floor muscles showed a significant increase in favour of Group 1 and a faster increase in E and F values in favour of Group 2, but no significant difference was observed between the groups. Improvements were observed in some parameters of EMG data in both groups. However, no significant difference was found between the groups. The results of our study showed that Global Postural Reeducation training corrects postural disorders and both reflexive and standard pelvic floor exercises can be effective in preventing pelvic floor dysfunction by improving pelvic floor muscles functionally.