Effects of an 8-Week Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Program on Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractility: An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunctions, such as urinary incontinence (UI), significantly impact women’s quality of life. The abdominal hypopressive technique (AHT), a breathing and posture-based intervention, has emerged as a promising approach to improve PFM function. Despite growing ev...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Olga López-Torres Miriam Álvarez-Sáez Jorge Lorenzo Calvo Loreto Carmona Lidón Soriano |
| author_facet | Olga López-Torres Miriam Álvarez-Sáez Jorge Lorenzo Calvo Loreto Carmona Lidón Soriano |
| author_sort | Olga López-Torres |
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| description | Background: Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunctions, such as urinary incontinence (UI), significantly impact women’s quality of life. The abdominal hypopressive technique (AHT), a breathing and posture-based intervention, has emerged as a promising approach to improve PFM function. Despite growing evidence on its efficacy, limited research explores its effect on PFM contractility. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week AHT program on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength in adult women with no prior experience with AHT. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 42 females (mean age 43 ± 9 years) assigned to an experimental group (EG, n = 21) or a control group (CG, n = 21). The EG completed 24 AHT sessions (30 min/session, 3 sessions/week) over 8 weeks. PFM strength, measured via maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Phenix Biofeedback Kit. Secondary outcomes included load absorption and muscle efficiency. Muscle efficiency and load absorption were also registered. Results: After the 8-week intervention, significant improvements were observed in the EG for maximal voluntary contraction (MVC1 (from 672.2 ± 344.1 g/cm<sup>2</sup> to 890.3 ± 435.8 g/cm<sup>2</sup>, <i>p</i> = 0.002) and load absorption (from 83.9 ± 36.8 to 103.1 ± 37.3, <i>p</i> = 0.001), with no significant changes in the CG. Between-group differences for MVC1 (<i>p</i> = 0.001), MVC2 (<i>p</i> = 0.016), and load absorption (<i>p</i> = 0.008) were statistically significant. High adherence (96%) and no adverse events were recorded. Conclusions: An 8-week AHT program significantly improved PFM strength, load absorption, and muscle efficiency in women from the present study comparing with the CG. AHT could be considered a safe, non-invasive, and effective intervention for pelvic floor rehabilitation, with potential benefits for addressing UI and enhancing pelvic floor functionality. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and comparisons with alternative therapies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a0fa9a4679e14c028d09ecee801096bb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-a0fa9a4679e14c028d09ecee801096bb2025-08-20T02:32:49ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-05-011511584410.3390/app15115844Effects of an 8-Week Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Program on Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractility: An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled TrialOlga López-Torres0Miriam Álvarez-Sáez1Jorge Lorenzo Calvo2Loreto Carmona3Lidón Soriano4Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, SpainMaio Clinical Center, 36201 Vigo, SpainSports Department, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainInstituto de Salud Musculoesquelética (Inmusc), 28045 Madrid, SpainNavarra’s Health School, 31008 Pamplona, SpainBackground: Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunctions, such as urinary incontinence (UI), significantly impact women’s quality of life. The abdominal hypopressive technique (AHT), a breathing and posture-based intervention, has emerged as a promising approach to improve PFM function. Despite growing evidence on its efficacy, limited research explores its effect on PFM contractility. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week AHT program on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength in adult women with no prior experience with AHT. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 42 females (mean age 43 ± 9 years) assigned to an experimental group (EG, n = 21) or a control group (CG, n = 21). The EG completed 24 AHT sessions (30 min/session, 3 sessions/week) over 8 weeks. PFM strength, measured via maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Phenix Biofeedback Kit. Secondary outcomes included load absorption and muscle efficiency. Muscle efficiency and load absorption were also registered. Results: After the 8-week intervention, significant improvements were observed in the EG for maximal voluntary contraction (MVC1 (from 672.2 ± 344.1 g/cm<sup>2</sup> to 890.3 ± 435.8 g/cm<sup>2</sup>, <i>p</i> = 0.002) and load absorption (from 83.9 ± 36.8 to 103.1 ± 37.3, <i>p</i> = 0.001), with no significant changes in the CG. Between-group differences for MVC1 (<i>p</i> = 0.001), MVC2 (<i>p</i> = 0.016), and load absorption (<i>p</i> = 0.008) were statistically significant. High adherence (96%) and no adverse events were recorded. Conclusions: An 8-week AHT program significantly improved PFM strength, load absorption, and muscle efficiency in women from the present study comparing with the CG. AHT could be considered a safe, non-invasive, and effective intervention for pelvic floor rehabilitation, with potential benefits for addressing UI and enhancing pelvic floor functionality. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and comparisons with alternative therapies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/5844abdominal hypopressive techniquepelvic floor musclemaximum voluntary contractionrandomized controlled trialmuscle strengthurinary incontinence |
| spellingShingle | Olga López-Torres Miriam Álvarez-Sáez Jorge Lorenzo Calvo Loreto Carmona Lidón Soriano Effects of an 8-Week Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Program on Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractility: An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Applied Sciences abdominal hypopressive technique pelvic floor muscle maximum voluntary contraction randomized controlled trial muscle strength urinary incontinence |
| title | Effects of an 8-Week Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Program on Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractility: An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Effects of an 8-Week Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Program on Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractility: An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of an 8-Week Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Program on Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractility: An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of an 8-Week Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Program on Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractility: An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Effects of an 8-Week Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Program on Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractility: An Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | effects of an 8 week abdominal hypopressive technique program on pelvic floor muscle contractility an assessor blinded randomized controlled trial |
| topic | abdominal hypopressive technique pelvic floor muscle maximum voluntary contraction randomized controlled trial muscle strength urinary incontinence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/5844 |
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