Kegel Exercises Prior to Strength Training to Improvestress Urinary Incontinence

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

This comparative pre-post intervention study investigates the feasibility and benefits of Kegel exercises amongst incontinent women, prior to commencing resistance training, to reduce the risk of stress urinary incontinence compared to a group of women without prior Kegel exercises.

The aim of the study is to determine whether a program of Kegel exercises prior to a resistance training program will result in reduction of stress urinary incontinence and whether this should be prescribed to incontinent women prior to performing resistance training. It is hypothesized that performing kegel exercises prior to resistance training would improve pelvic floor muscle strength and reduces the odds of experiencing SUI during resistance training.

A comparative study using data from 2 separate studies. Data used for the resistance training (RT) group from a foundational single cohort that investigated impact of RT on stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in a group of women participating in a RT program who had not previously done Kegel exercises (KE). New data for the KE+RT group was from 2 consecutive studies where the women completed a program of supervised / unsupervised KE. These 19 women took part in 12 weeks of RT to compare against the KE group. The findings of two separate studies in which the effect of RT on SUI and pelvic floor muscle strength was compared between women who completed 12 weeks of RT with or without prior KE. The RT group consisted of 14 women who did not have an experience in RT or KE and completed 12 weeks of RT. Women in the KE plus RT group (n=19) completed 12 weeks of Kegel exercise under the supervision of a qualified pelvic floor specialist; then completed the identical RT program as the RT group

all participants completed a 12 week strength training program consisting of warm up exercises, dead-lifts and squats. They had all completed a program of Kegel exercise prior.

all participants completed a 12 week strength training program consisting of warm up exercises, dead-lifts and squats

questionnaire for self-reported frequency and severity of urinary incontinence. the higher the score, the higher the impact of incontinence

questionnaire for self-reported frequency and severity of urinary incontinence. the higher the score, the higher the impact of incontinence

Inclusion Criteria: being female over eighteen years of age suffer from stress urinary incontinence did not perform Kegel exercises had no experience in regular resistance/strength training completed a physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q) form. Exclusion Criteria: pregnancy, breastfeeding