Effects of Iyengar Yoga on Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength and Endurance among Young Females with Stress Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the effects of yoga therapy on pelvic floor muscle strength, endurance, and health-related quality of life in young women with stress urinary incontinence.

Study Design: Interventional study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04428853).

Place and Duration of Study: Rehabilitation Department, Secondary Care Hospital, Karachi Pakistan, from Aug 2020 and Mar 2021.

Methodology: A total of 44 young married females aged between 17 and 40 years, diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence due to pelvic floor muscle weakness, were included. Perineometer was used to assess the strength and endurance of pelvic floor muscles. In addition, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) was used to assess the impact of incontinence symptoms on quality of life and the outcome of treatment at baseline and after eight weeks of intervention.

Results: Iyengar yoga significantly improved pelvic floor strength and endurance. There was statistically significance the impact of Iyengar yoga on pelvic floor muscle strength for the endurance of pelvic floor musculature (p < 0.001). Similarly,Iyengar yoga was also found significantly effective in decreasing frequency, severity and overall quality of life (QoL) by improving scores of ICIQ-UI-SF questionnaires showing a pre-post mean difference of 10 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The current study indicated the important role of yoga in improving pelvic muscle strength and endurance and decreasing urinary incontinence symptoms and distress hence improving the quality of life.