OBJECTIVE: To compare early home biofeedback physiotherapy with pelvic floor exercises (PFEs) for the initial management of women sustaining a primary third-degree tear. DESIGN: Single centre, randomised trial. SETTING: National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. POPULATION: A total of 120 women sustaining a primary third-degree tear. METHODS: Women were randomised in a one to three ratio: 30 to early postpartum home biofeedback physiotherapy and 90 to PFEs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in anorectal manometry results, Cleveland Clinic continence scores and Rockwood faecal incontinence quality of life scale scores after 3 months of postpartum treatment. RESULTS: The mean anal resting pressure was 39 ± 13 mmHg in the early biofeedback physiotherapy group and 43 ± 17 mmHg in the PFE group. The mean anal squeeze pressure was 64 ± 17 mmHg in the biofeedback group and 62 ± 23 mmHg in the PFE group. There was no significant difference in anal resting and squeeze pressure values between the groups (P = 0.123 and P = 0.68, respectively). There were no differences in symptom score and quality of life measurements between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates no added value in using early home biofeedback physiotherapy in the management of women sustaining third-degree tears. Poor compliance may have contributed because women found it difficult to designate time to using biofeedback.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To compare early home biofeedback physiotherapy with pelvic floor exercises (PFEs) for the initial management of women sustaining a primary third-degree tear. DESIGN: Single centre, randomised trial. SETTING: National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. POPULATION: A total of 120 women sustaining a primary third-degree tear. METHODS:Women were randomised in a one to three ratio: 30 to early postpartum home biofeedback physiotherapy and 90 to PFEs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in anorectal manometry results, Cleveland Clinic continence scores and Rockwood faecal incontinence quality of life scale scores after 3 months of postpartum treatment. RESULTS: The mean anal resting pressure was 39 ± 13 mmHg in the early biofeedback physiotherapy group and 43 ± 17 mmHg in the PFE group. The mean anal squeeze pressure was 64 ± 17 mmHg in the biofeedback group and 62 ± 23 mmHg in the PFE group. There was no significant difference in anal resting and squeeze pressure values between the groups (P = 0.123 and P = 0.68, respectively). There were no differences in symptom score and quality of life measurements between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates no added value in using early home biofeedback physiotherapy in the management of women sustaining third-degree tears. Poor compliance may have contributed because women found it difficult to designate time to using biofeedback.
Authors: T Aigmueller; W Bader; K Beilecke; K Elenskaia; A Frudinger; E Hanzal; H Helmer; H Huemer; M van der Kleyn; D Koelle; S Kropshofer; J Pfeiffer; C Reisenauer; A Tammaa; K Tamussino; W Umek Journal: Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Date: 2015-02 Impact factor: 2.915
Authors: Stephanie J Woodley; Peter Lawrenson; Rhianon Boyle; June D Cody; Siv Mørkved; Ashleigh Kernohan; E Jean C Hay-Smith Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-05-06