BACKGROUND: Pelvic floor (PF) disorder affects 25 % of females, often progressing to Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP). PF muscle training (PFMT) and hypopressive breathing (HB) are conservative techniques used to repair pelvic muscles. This study analyzes the comparative efficacy of PFMT and HB for POP. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted and seven records were included in the pooled analysis, which compared PF outcomes between HB and PFMT. RESULTS: PFMT (d 2.14 and d 1.07) demonstrated a larger effect size compared to HB (d 1.24 and d 0.78) for sEMG contractility and the Modified Oxford Scale, respectively. The Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) found a lower effect size of PFMT (d 0.558) compared to HB (d 0.961). CONCLUSIONS: PFMT was found to improve PF strength (Oxford) more than HB, while HB had a greater effect on quality of life (PFDI-20). Results were insignificant for contractility.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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