EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES VS. PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES WITH A GYM BALL IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

CHITRA S.P,SHYAM RANI,PARTHASARATHY R.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two Kegel exercise protocols on improving pelvic floor muscle strength in postmenopausal women: traditional pelvic floor exercises (Group A) and pelvic floor exercises performed with a gym ball (Group B).

Study Design: Participants were recruited from a physiotherapy and rehabilitation center and randomized into two groups. Group A performed traditional pelvic floor exercises, while Group B incorporated a gym ball into their exercise routine. Both groups received detailed instructions and were periodically supervised to ensure proper technique. The intervention lasted for ten weeks, with exercises performed four days per week. Pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed using digital palpation and the Modified Oxford Scale pre- and post-intervention.

Results: In Group A, the mean pretest score was 2.15±0.813, and the post-test score increased to 2.40±0.883, with a p-value of 0.02, indicating a significant improvement. In Group B, the mean pretest score was 2.20±0.768, and the post-test score significantly increased to 3.15±0.745, with a highly significant p-value of <0.001. The intergroup comparison showed no significant difference at baseline (p=0.88), but post-intervention, Group B had significantly higher scores than Group A (p=0.001). The findings suggest that incorporating a gym ball into pelvic floor exercises provides greater improvements in muscle strength.

Conclusion: This study highlighted the effectiveness of pelvic floor exercises in improving muscle strength in postmenopausal women. While both traditional exercises and those performed with a gym ball showed benefits, the latter was significantly more effective. Incorporating a gym ball into pelvic floor exercise routines could be a beneficial strategy for enhancing muscle strength and overall quality of life in postmenopausal women. Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm these results and explore additional benefits.