A Comparative Analysis of Conventional Therapy and Pilates on Quality of Life in Pelvic Organ Prolapse
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71164/socialmedicine.v19i1.2026.2025Keywords:
Patient education postmenopausal, pelvic floor rehabilitation, Psychology, Exercises.Abstract
Purpose. Pelvic Organ Prolapse is a condition causing pelvic floor descent, leading to discomfort, urinary issues, and reduced quality of life. Conventional therapy, including pelvic floor exercises, is widely used, while Pilates, a mind-body exercise program, is gaining popularity for core strengthening and pelvic floor rehabilitation. This study aims to analyze and compare the impact of these two interventions on quality of life in women diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse. Methods. This randomized controlled trial included 100 women aged 35-60 years with stage I-III POP, recruited from a tertiary care hospital. Subject randomized in to two groups: Conventional Therapy (n=50) or Pilates (n=50). The intervention spanned 12 weeks, with three sessions per week. QoL was assessed using the validated Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7) at baseline and after the intervention. Secondary outcomes included pelvic floor muscle strength measured using the Modified Oxford Scale. Results. Both groups showed significant improvements in PFIQ-7 score post-intervention (p<0.05). However, the Pilates group demonstrated a greater reduction in symptom severity and a higher increase in pelvic floor muscle strength compared to the Conventional Therapy group with mean difference. Women in the Pilates group reported enhanced physical functioning, sexual satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Conclusion. Findings suggest both conventional therapy and Pilates are effective in improving Quality of life in women with Pelvic organ prolapse, and that Pilates provides superior benefits due to its emphasis on core stabilization and functional training. This highlights the potential of integrating Pilates into routine Pelvic organ prolapse management protocols.
References
Kuo CH, Martingano DJ, Mikes BA. Pelvic organ prolapse. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. 2025. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563229/
Doaee M, Moradi-Lakeh M, Nourmohammadi A, Razavi-Ratki SK, Nojomi M. Management of pelvic organ prolapse and quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Urogynecology Journal [Internet]. 2013 Jun 19;25(2):153–63. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-013-2141-8
Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, Sinclair L, Ramsay I. A randomized controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle training for stages I and II pelvic organ prolapse. International Urogynecology Journal [Internet]. 2008 Sep 19;20(1):45–51. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18806910/
Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q) - a new era in pelvic prolapse staging [Internet]. PubMed. 2011. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21505577/
Carroll L, Sullivan CO, Doody C, Perrotta C, Fullen B. Pelvic organ prolapse: The lived experience. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2022 Nov 2;17(11):e0276788. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276788
Ghanbari Z, Eftekhar T, Goodarzi SH, Haj Baratali B, Bashiri SA, Shariat M. Posterior intravaginal slingplasty versus abdominal sacrocolpopexy for the treatment of vaginal prolapse: a clinical trial. Tehran Univ Med J. 2009;67(3):215-220.
Borello-France DF, Handa VL, Brown MB, Goode P, Kreder K, Scheufele LL, et al. Pelvic-Floor muscle function in women with pelvic organ prolapse. Physical Therapy [Internet]. 2007 Mar 7;87(4):399–407. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17341510/
Lausen A, Marsland L, Head S, Jackson J, Lausen B. Modified Pilates as an adjunct to standard physiotherapy care for urinary incontinence: a mixed methods pilot for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Women S Health [Internet]. 2018 Jan 12;18(1):16. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29329567/
Bo K, Frawley HC, Haylen BT, Abramov Y, Almeida FG, Berghmans B, et al. An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for the conservative and nonpharmacological management of female pelvic floor dysfunction. Neurourology and Urodynamics [Internet]. 2016 Dec 5;36(2):221–44. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.23107
Gisto GT, Silva AR, Oliveira LA, et al. Effects of the pilates method on the pelvic floor muscles: a systematic review. Manual Therapy Posturology Rehabil J. 2023;21:729. doi: 10.17784/mtprehabjournal.2023.21.729
McClurg D, Hilton P, Dolan L, Monga A, Hagen S, Frawley H, et al. Pelvic floor muscle training as an adjunct to prolapse surgery: a randomised feasibility study. International Urogynecology Journal [Internet]. 2014 Feb 5;25(7):883–91. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-013-2301-x
Curillo-Aguirre CA, Gea-Izquierdo E. Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Quality of Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina [Internet]. 2023 May 23;59(6):1004. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10301414/
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Pelvic organ prolapse: Learn More – Pelvic floor exercises and vaginal pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse [Internet]. InformedHealth.org - NCBI Bookshelf. 2025. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525762/
Özengin N, Ün Yıldırım N, Duran B. A comparison between stabilization exercises and pelvic floor muscle training in women with pelvic organ prolapse. Turk J Obstet Gynecol. 2015;12(1):11-17. doi:10.4274/tjod.7431
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.