TY - JOUR
T1 - Pre-rehabilitation of the pelvic floor before radiation therapy for cervical cancer
T2 - a pilot study
AU - Sacomori, Cinara
AU - Araya-Castro, Paulina
AU - Diaz-Guerrero, Paulette
AU - Ferrada, Ingrid Alanis
AU - Martínez-Varas, Angélica Claudia
AU - Zomkowski, Kamilla
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The International Urogynecological Association.
PY - 2020/11/1
Y1 - 2020/11/1
N2 - Introduction and hypothesis: The objective was to evaluate pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function regarding strength, activation and incontinence, approximately 1 month before and after radiation therapy in women with cervical cancer. Methods: This was a pilot study of 49 women with cervical cancer at stages I to III. These women attended an educational session with a physical therapist who taught them to perform preventive pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs; slow and fast contractions and the “knack”) at home before, during and after radiation therapy. The women received instructions for performing PFME prior to radiation therapy. The modified Oxford scale, electromyography (EMG), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form to assess urinary incontinence and two questions for faecal and gas incontinence were used. Results: Twenty-eight women (57%; mean age = 44 years, range 27–66) completed the study, 21 (43%) were lost to follow-up. There was no significant change from baseline to post-radiation therapy in muscle strength, EMG records and incontinence (p > 0.05). The median of PFM strength was equal at baseline and after intervention (median = 2; IQR = 1). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that pre-rehabilitation teaching PFMEs might be a protective factor for preserving PFM strength and preventing incontinence 1 month after radiation therapy. It is a feasible intervention.
AB - Introduction and hypothesis: The objective was to evaluate pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function regarding strength, activation and incontinence, approximately 1 month before and after radiation therapy in women with cervical cancer. Methods: This was a pilot study of 49 women with cervical cancer at stages I to III. These women attended an educational session with a physical therapist who taught them to perform preventive pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs; slow and fast contractions and the “knack”) at home before, during and after radiation therapy. The women received instructions for performing PFME prior to radiation therapy. The modified Oxford scale, electromyography (EMG), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form to assess urinary incontinence and two questions for faecal and gas incontinence were used. Results: Twenty-eight women (57%; mean age = 44 years, range 27–66) completed the study, 21 (43%) were lost to follow-up. There was no significant change from baseline to post-radiation therapy in muscle strength, EMG records and incontinence (p > 0.05). The median of PFM strength was equal at baseline and after intervention (median = 2; IQR = 1). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that pre-rehabilitation teaching PFMEs might be a protective factor for preserving PFM strength and preventing incontinence 1 month after radiation therapy. It is a feasible intervention.
KW - Brachytherapy
KW - Cervical cancer
KW - Muscle strength
KW - Pelvic floor
KW - Pre-rehabilitation
KW - Radiotherapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087134085&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00192-020-04391-5
DO - 10.1007/s00192-020-04391-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 32601784
AN - SCOPUS:85087134085
SN - 0937-3462
VL - 31
SP - 2411
EP - 2418
JO - International Urogynecology Journal
JF - International Urogynecology Journal
IS - 11
ER -