Effects of Antenatal Exercises on Maternal Birth Outcomes

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study is aimed to determine the effects of pelvic floor stretching Vs strengthening on maternal birth outcomes and postpartum urogenital distress in primigravida.

Detailed Description
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The effects of pelvic floor muscle exercises on the symptoms of postpartum urinary distress is not known, so there is a need to determine whether strengthening or stretching of pelvic floor muscles help in reducing the risk of developing urogenital distress in postpartum period of females. The positive effect of pelvic floor muscle training on duration of labor and maternal birth outcomes is understood. As stated in a systemic review of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy. The researches done on effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises, included once a week supervised session of sustained pelvic floor muscle contractions with rest intervals and fast contractions with respective rest intervals along with daily home sessions of the same exercises.

Official Title
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Effect of Antenatal Pelvic Floor Stretching Vs Strengthening Exercises on Maternal Birth Outcomes in Primigravida

Conditions
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Pregnancy Related

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Pelvic floor stretching
* Other: Pelvic floor strengthening


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Primigravida Exclusion Criteria: Any Contraindications to performing an exercise during pregnancy based on recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) females opting for Elective C section

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Pelvic floor stretching<br>Pelvic floor stretching exercises | Other: Pelvic floor stretching<br>* Week 1 to 4: Pelvic floor muscles awareness, Breathing exercises , seated pelvic tilts, cat stretches, seated hip openers (2 sets, 8 reps, sustained for 6 seconds) Week 5 to 8: Pelvic floor muscles awareness, Breathing exercises ,seated pelvic tilts, cat stretches, Seated hip openers, Relaxed Frog (2 sets, 8 reps, sustained for 6 seconds) Week 9 to 13: Pelvic floor muscles awareness, Breathing exercises, seated pelvic tilts, cat stretches, Seated hip openers, Relaxed Frog side lying clamshells, mini squats with support (2 sets, 9 reps, sustained for 7 seconds)<br>|
| Active Comparator: Pelvic floor strengthening<br>Pelvic floor strengthening Exercises | Other: Pelvic floor strengthening<br>* Week 1 to 4: Pelvic floor muscles awareness, Breathing exercises, 2 Sets of 10 Reps for pelvic floor squeeze and release Seated marching with elastic band with pelvic floor squeeze. Week 5 to 8: 2 sets x 9 Reps for Pelvic floor squeeze and release, Seated marching with elastic band with pelvic. 2 Sets x 8 Reps for bridging with pelvic floor squeeze, side lying hip circles Week 9 to 13: 2 sets 10 reps for Pelvic floor squeeze-and-release, Seated marching with elastic band with pelvic floor squeeze, pelvic bridging with pelvic floor squeeze, side lying hip circles with pelvic floor squeeze. 2 sets, 8 reps for . side lying Clamshells with resistance band and pelvic floor squeeze and plie squats with pelvic floor squeeze<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mode of delivery | Changes from the baseline outcome of Mode of Delivery will be taken from the delivery and labor records of the patients and also from the consultant Gynecologist. | 13th Week | 
| Duration of labour | Changes from the baseline outcome of Duration of labour will be taken from the delivery and labor records of the patients and also from the consultant Gynecologist. It will be measured in minutes/hours. | 13th Week | 
| Number of vaginal inductions | Changes from the baseline outcome of Number of vaginal inductions will be taken from the delivery and labor records of the patients and also from the consultant Gynecologist. It will be measured in minutes/hours. | 13th Week | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Urogenital Distress Inventory | UDI-6 is a widely used tool for the assessment of quality of life and symptoms of urinary incontinence in women. It is the short form which consists of 6 questions which are: frequent urination, leakage related to feeling of urgency, leakage related to activity, coughing or sneezing. Amount of drops of leakage, difficulty emptying the bladder and pain and discomfort in the lower abdominal or genital area. Scoring: Item responses are assigned values of 0 for not at all, 1 for slightly, 2 for moderately, and 3 for greatly. The average score of items responded to is calculated. The average, which ranges from 0 to 3, is multiplied by 33 1/3 to put scores on a scale of 0 to 100. | 15th Week | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Pregnancy Related, Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness, Delivery Delayed