The influence of lumbar spine mobility on pelvic floor muscles functional state during pregnancy

The problem of research: Pelvic floor dysfunction problem is still actually in Lithuania, not only because of increasing prevalence, inability to find effective help, but also of not effective methods of treatment. Aim of the study: to investigate the influence lumbar spine mobility on functional state of pelvic floor muscles. Tasks of the study: investigate change of pelvic floor muscles strength during pregnancy in control and testing group; investigate change of lumbar spine mobility during pregnancy in control and testing group in 28th and 38th pregnancy week; to investigate the influence of pregnant women age on the state of pelvic floor muscles and lumbar spine mobility; to investigate association between pelvic floor muscles and lumbar spine mobility. Methods: 60 volunteer’s pregnant women were investigated. They were divided into control and testing groups; into in younger (≤29) and older (≥30) pregnant women groups. Testing group has been applied to the aqua health program. Pelvic muscles maximum strength was objectively measured using the device „Pelvexiser“; the lumbar mobility was investigated using Shober test. Results: There were observed lumbar spine mobility (20,03±1,86%, p0,05) and pelvic floor muscles strength (1,49±1,72%, p>0,05) not significant reduction in testing group in 38th pregnancy week. During repeated testing lumbar spine mobility reduction reached 9,5±1,74% (p<0,05) in younger than 30 years pregnant women group and 15,67±3,29 % (p<0,05) in older group. The change of pelvic floor muscles strength reduction (18,57±4,32%, p<0,05) in older than 30 years pregnant women group was more than in younger (11,75±2,43 %, p<0,05). There were assessed weak association (r=0,192, p<0,05) between pelvic floor muscles and lumbar spine mobility in control group, and medium strong (r=0,635, p<0,05) - in testing group. Conclusion: pelvic floor muscles strength was reducing in 28th and 38th pregnancy week in control group (p<0,05), in testing group – has remained similar; Significant reduction was observed in control group during investigation of lumbar spine mobility change during pregnancy (p<0,05), and in testing group – only tendency to reduce; in younger than 30 years pregnant women group, pelvic floor muscles strenght has been higher than the older both in 28th and 38th pregnancy week (p