Effect of Pilates and Kegel Exercises During Pregnancy

Effect of Pilates and Kegel Exercises During Pregnancy on Postpartum Urinary and Fecal Incontinence and Women's Quality of Life

Urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence are common health problems in the postpartum period because of their effect on daily life and are likely to reduce quality of life. It is known that the most effective way to protect from UI during pregnancy and the postpartum period is pelvic floor muscle exercise. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Pilates and Kegel exercises applied during pregnancy on the quality of life of urinary and fecal incontinence in the postpartum period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pregnancy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise

Detailed Description

In this study; the effects of pilates and kegel exercises on urinary and fecal incontinence of pregnant women in the 1st and 3rd months postpartum are investigated and which of the applied pilates and kegel exercises is more effective on urinary and fecal quality of life.67 pregnant women with a mean age of 27.29±3.27 years participated in the study. Pilates exercise group (PEG, n=24), Kegel exercise group (KEG, n=22), and Control group (CG, n=21) were formed with the purposeful method. PEG exercise programs were applied for 8 weeks, 2 days a week, 40 minutes, and KEG for 8 weeks, 4 days a week, 3 sessions per day. The groups were applied the International Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale, Wexner Continence Assessment Scale, and Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale at 1st. and 3rd. months postpartum

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 67

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Central
    • Corum, Central, Turkey, 19030
      • Hitit University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Pregnancy women

Description

Inclucision Criteria

• Being between the ages of 18-38 years,
• Not having a condition that prevents exercise,
• Being in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy,
• Voluntarily accepting to participate in the study, a
• Answering each of the scale items,
• Having a vaginal (normal) birth.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not being between the ages of 18-38,
• Having a condition that prevents exercise,
• Not being in the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy,
• Leaving scale items blank, and having a cesarean section.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Baseline Anthropometric Measurements (Weight, Height, BMI)	Baseline meausurement ( 1 week) Participants will be evaluated at baseline. Data collection refers to anthropometric parameters (Weight, height and BMI. BMI BMI will calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height squared (kg/m2) in meters	2021 june
Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I-QOL)-Baseline and Follow-up Measurements	Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I-QOL) - Evaluates the quality of life related to urinary incontinence. Description: Evaluates the quality of life related to urinary incontinence. This scale was applied at baseline and at the 1st and 3rd months postpartum. Minimum Value: 0 (Poor quality of life) Maximum Value: 100 (High quality of life) Higher Scores Indicate: Better quality of life Data Aggregation: Mean ± SD and comparison of scores between groups using ANOVA.	June 2021 (Baseline) and 1st and 3rd months postpartum
Effect of an 8-Week Exercise Intervention on Urinary and Fecal Incontinence - Measured by ICIQ-UI Short Form and Wexner Continence Assessment Scale	This measure evaluates the effect of an 8-week exercise intervention on urinary and fecal incontinence in pregnant women. Urinary incontinence severity will be assessed using the ICIQ-UI SF, and fecal incontinence using the Wexner Scale at baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), and 1st and 3rd months postpartum. Participants are divided into two groups: Pilates Group (PEG): Performed Pilates twice a week, 40 minutes per session, for 8 weeks, using a mini ball, resistance band, and Pilates ring. Kegel Group (KEG): Performed Kegel exercises 4 days a week, 3 sessions per day, for 8 weeks, involving controlled pelvic floor contractions and relaxations. Measurement Tools: Urinary Incontinence: ICIQ-UI SF Fecal Incontinence: Wexner Scale	Baseline (June 2021), Post-intervention (August 2021), and Follow-up at 1st and 3rd months postpartum.
International Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form Score (ICIQ-SF) - Urinary Incontinence Impact	Description: Assesses the impact of urinary incontinence on daily life. Minimum Value: 0 (No impact) Maximum Value: 21 (Severe impact) Higher Scores Indicate: Worse quality of life Data Aggregation: Mean ± SD and comparison of groups using repeated measures ANOVA, paired t-test for pre- and post-intervention comparison.	2021 September 2021 November
Wexner Continence Assessment Scale Score - Fecal Incontinence Severity	Description: Measures the severity of fecal incontinence. Minimum Value: 0 (Complete continence) Maximum Value: 20 (Complete incontinence) Higher Scores Indicate: Worse fecal incontinence Data Aggregation: Mean ± SD and comparison of groups using repeated measures ANOVA, paired t-test for pre- and post-intervention comparison.	September 2021 - November 2021
Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQL) Score	Description: Assesses the quality of life related to fecal incontinence. Minimum Value: 1 (Poor quality of life) Maximum Value: 5 (High quality of life) Higher Scores Indicate: Better quality of life Data Aggregation: Mean ± SD and comparison of groups using repeated measures ANOVA, paired t-test for pre- and post-intervention comparison	September 2021 - November 2021

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hitit University

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

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Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 5, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): February 13, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 8, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 5, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 5, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: exercise; pregnancy; Quality Of Life; Urinary İncontinence; Fecal İncontiance
• Other Study ID Numbers: 469; Hitit University (Other Identifier: Hitit University)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: There is a plan to make IPD and related data dictionaries available
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No