Regular Exercisers Have Stronger Pelvic Floor Muscles Than Nonregular Exercisers at Midpregnancy

摘要

Clinicians encourage all healthy pregnant women to be physically active throughout pregnancy. Specific recommendations include participation in at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week, strength training of the major muscle groups 2 to 3 days per week, and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training. It is unclear, however, whether general physical activity enhances or declines PFM function and there has been continuing debate on this issue. There are sparse data in the literature examining the association between regular exercise and pelvic muscle strength (PFM) variables during pregnancy in the general female population, and no such studies in pregnant women.