Is abdominal hypopressive technique effective in the prevention and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction? Marketing or evidence from high-quality clinical trials?

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 135 - 136
• Main Authors: Martín-Rodríguez, Saúl, Bø, Kari
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Abdomen; Clinical medicine; Clinical trials; Health risk assessment; Prevention; Social networks; Systematic review; South America; Canada; Italy; United Kingdom > UK; France; Spain; pelvic floor; abdomen
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098046

[...]Stupp et al found in 34 nulliparous physical therapists that the AHT was less effective than PFM contraction to activate the TrA, but adding PFM contraction to AHT improved the TrA contraction.4 Despite the above, some authors have indicated that contraction of the TrA may increase the intra-abdominal pressure, which could negatively impact the pelvic floor by causing muscle caudal displacement.5 Hence, the AHT is controversial and should be further studied. Bo and Hebert developed a six-stage protocol for the introduction of new therapies in clinical practise.7 The protocol included the following phases: (1) development phase (clinical observation or laboratory studies, clinical exploration and pilot studies); (2) testing phase (RCTs); and (3) refinement and dissemination phase (active dissemination). Subsequently, the same authors conducted a systematic review to examine evidence of alternative exercise regimens for female stress UI, showing that there were no studies published on the effect of AHT and still no evidence for other techniques to prevent or treat this condition.3 In this regard, the authors pointed out that the AHT still was in a development phrase, according to the proposed six-stage protocol.