The Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises on the Inferior Vena Cava
Condition: Supine Hypotensive Syndrome
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The aim of this study is to examine the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises on the
      hemodynamic responses of the vena cava inferior in pregnant and non-pregnant women.
    

Detailed description: 
      The IVC is responsible for approximately two-thirds of the total venous return to the heart.
      The blood flow in the IVC is affected by the respiratory and cardiac cycle. One of the
      factors affecting blood flow is pregnancy. Studies have shown that the hemodynamic responses
      of the IVC may vary depending on the position, and that the supine position puts pressure on
      the IVC during pregnancy.

      Compression of the growing fetus against the IVC can cause supine hypotensive syndrome and
      fetal danger. However, there is no definite finding about the effects of exercise performed
      in the supine position. Jefferys et al. reported that the reduction in blood flow at rest is
      twice that that occurs during exercise and that the level of blood flow should not be a cause
      for concern in healthy asymptomatic women who choose to exercise in the supine position in
      late pregnancy. Based on this information, we predict that pelvic floor muscle exercises can
      change the hemodynamic responses of the IVC and reduce the compression on it.

      In order to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises on hemodynamic responses of
      IVC and compression on it, pregnant and non-pregnant women will be measured by
      ultrasonography. Women eligible for the study will be seated and rested for 30 minutes before
      taking the measurement. Then, he will be taken to the supine position, rested for 2 minutes,
      and the first measurements will be taken at the 3rd minute. pelvic floor muscle exercises
      will be applied for 5 minutes as stated in the literature. Ultrasonographic measurements will
      be repeated in the supine position immediately after the pelvic floor exercises and 5 minutes
      after the exercise. Measurements will be applied to all participants in the same order.
      During the exercises blood pressure, heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation will be
      monitored. Before and after the exercises, the heart rate and blood pressure parameters of
      the women will be recorded.
    

Intervention name(s): pelvic floor muscle exercises
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Before the pelvic floor exercises are taught to all women participating in the study, a brief informational training about the function and structure of the pelvic floor and pelvis will be given using visuals. The application protocol will be given by experienced specialist physiotherapists who have received special training on pelvic floor muscle training. In this study, the training protocol described by Mørkved et al and Bø et al will be used. An exercise series will consist of slow and fast muscle contractions of the pelvic floor muscles. The exercise series will include 10 reps of maximum pelvic floor muscle contraction held for 6 seconds followed by three rapid muscle contractions. A 10-second rest period will be given between each exercise series. A total of 5 minutes, 4 repetitions of pelvic floor muscle contraction series will be applied, including the rest period.
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: This research is a prospective and controlled study. The data of the study will be collected from pregnant women (Experimental group) and non-pregnant women (Control group).
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention