A Study To Investigate The Correlation Of Respiratory Function And Abdominal Muscle Strength In Women With Urinary Incontinence

The role of the pelvic floor is essential for the synergy of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles in the maintenance of intra-abdominal pressure. There is mounting evidence that the abdominal, respiratory, and PFM systems all play different roles in expiratory function. It has been hypothesised that diaphragm and abdominal muscle training (DMT and AMT), as well as direct PFM training (PFMT), may have effects on pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS) and pelvic floor muscle endurance (PFME) that are similar to those of direct PFM training (PFMT), in accordance with physiological functional relationships. If this theory is accurate, the weaknesses of the current data could be addressed, including the ease with which diaphragm and abdominal muscle training can be taught and controlled in terms of intensity, ensuring quality control; measuring muscle strength and endurance, on how various training programmes affect the PFMs, and how this correlates with UI. We propose that expiratory manoeuvres are related to a link between PFM function (as clinically assessed) and expiratory parameters because of the postulated synergistic coactivation of PFM and anterolateral abdominal muscles (as determined by spirometry).

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to ascertain whether abdominal muscular strength and pulmonary function are related to urinary incontinence in females.