Effects of Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastics in Urinary Incontinence

Society is facing a longer life expectancy due to improvements in medicine, which leads to an increase in the aging population. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the population over 65 years of age has been increasing from 2001 to 2020, assuming a growth of 14.6% in Europe and 13.6% in Spain. Demographic indicators indicate a greater increase in life expectancy in women (from 82.7-85.1 years) than in men (75.9-79.6 years).

Currently, women present more specific health problems than men due to their physiological conditions, such as the menopausal transition. At the vasomotor level, hot flashes or hot flashes form the most distinctive element of this stage at the sexual level, such as the lack of lubrication, discomfort or pain, and altered function; on a psychological level, anxiety and depression, which is a syndrome linked to disorders such as sadness and its impact on menopause, is quite significant; and the affectation of sleep that are one of the main complaints of women at this stage. All these symptoms affect the quality of life of women both physically and mentally.

With aging and the incidence of menopause, a series of changes in women's health take place, constituting a natural and inevitable process; which can cause unwanted events, such as urinary incontinence. UI is defined as the involuntary loss of urine, within urinary incontinence the most prevalent is stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in 10-30% in most studies, and compared to men 75% of women are more affected than men. This condition can cause disorders in the quality of life, and among the main risk factors are increasing age, parity, family history of prolapse, obesity, lifting heavy objects and constipation also influences. Women with prolapses may present with vaginal, bladder, bowel, back, abdominal, and sexual symptoms. Women frequently suffer from UI due to atrophic changes in the urogenital tract. Therefore, a conservative treatment where the evaluation of the pelvic floor strength and the functional use of pelvic floor muscle training are previously carried out is recommended to achieve health benefits and therefore quality of life.

Recent studies have shown that women with pelvic floor dysfunctions who perform pelvic floor muscle training through hypopressive abdominal exercises improve the pelvic muscles and quality of life of postmenopausal women with UI and prolapses. The hypopressive abdominal exercises (AHT) technique can be classified as a breathing exercise. It was developed by Dr. Marcel Caufriez, a physical therapist in 1980. This inventor theorized that the decrease in abdominal pressure obtained with AHT may produce reflex activation of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor muscles, thus reducing UI and prolapses. The AHT, in summary, involves diaphragmatic breathing, total air breathing, and gradual contraction of the transverse abdominis and intercostal muscles with rise in the diaphragm and apnea. This conservative treatment technique is adaptable to the mind (since you have to concentrate on breathing) and body integration exercise that can be worked on anywhere and anytime, without the need for special equipment.

The directors of this doctoral thesis have experience in this field, with several works published in journals located in the first tercile and quartile of their categories according to the JCR index.

Inclusion criteria

• Women with urinary incontinence with cessation of menstrual activity for 12 months or more and who are able to understand the instructions and exercise protocols of this project.

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindications for physical tests, cancer or serious illness, musculoskeletal and neurological diseases (Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy, cerebrovascular accident, etc.).
• Taking drugs that affect the central nervous system or antidepressants, or lack of willingness to participate in the study.
• People who have previously carried out pelvic floor reeducation programs.