Impact of physical activity on pelvic floor dysfunction in older women: A cross-sectional study in type D hospital, Khanpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

This longitudinal research investigates the effect of physical activity on abdominal disorders, resulting in incontinence of urine (UI) and sexual dysfunction (FSD), among older women. Conducted at Type D Hospital, Khanpur, District Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the study involved women aged 60 and above, divided into physically active and non-active groups. Data was collected using information about physical activity, The Worldwide Conference on Female Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) for UI evaluation, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for evaluating reproductive activity. The abdominal muscle contraction was evaluated using the Perfect Scheme. Results revealed that physical activity did not significantly influence UI or FSD severity in the study population. Despite high prevalence rates of UI (48.6%) and FSD (45.7%) and some variations in PFM function, no substantial differences were observed between physically active and non-active groups regarding UI frequency, severity, or sexual function. These findings suggest that while physical activity may improve PFM functionality, its impact on UI and FSD in older women may be limited. Further research is needed to explore integrated treatment approaches and validate these results.