Effect of increasing awareness of pelvic floor muscle function on pelvic floor dysfunction

This randomized controlled study with blinding allocation assessed pelvic floor knowledge (PFK) and the presence of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in women office workers. The effects of receiving pelvic floor muscle (PFM) health education on PFK and PFD were also investigted. Participants receiving both PFM exercise education interventions (group A) and those receiving only the first education intervention (group B) exhibited highly significant improvements in PFK compared with the control group (both p < 0.001). The groups receiving PFM exercise education also displayed a highly significant reduction in PFD symptoms (p < 0.001), and a significant increase in quality of life (QoL; p < 0.05).

While the results of this study cannot be generalized to all women, low levels of PFK was associated with high a prevalence of PFD, and an increase in knowledge/awareness following education was significantly related to an increase in QoL and a decrease in PFD symptoms.