Effects of an Exercise Health Promotion Program on Women's Urogenital Health, Perianal Surface Electromyography, and Health Related Quality of Life

Monday, July 11, 2011

Yuan-Mei Liao, PhD, RN1
Lu-I Chang, PhD, RN1
Sue-Yueh Cheng, RN, MS2
(1)College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
(2)Doctoral Student in Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences,College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to understand the effects of an exercise program on women's urogenital health, perianal surface electromyography, and quality of life

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to develop accessible intervention or strategy to improve women’s urogenital health base on this study results

Purpose: Little studies were conducted to address the role that the menopause has on women’s experiences of urogenital health. The major aim of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise health promotion program on women’s urogenital health, perianal surface electromyography (EMG), and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among a sample of women aged 45-65.

Methods:   This study was conducted at one obstetrics/gynecologic outpatient department in a medical center. Twenty-six women aged 45-65 with at least one type of urogenital symptoms were invited to attend an exercise health promotion program. The program included a 4-hour education section and a 1-year exercise program. Another 24 women were recruited at the same time as a reference group.

Results: Study results confirmed the positive effects of this exercise promotion program. In the intervention group, paired t-test showed significant difference on women’s urogenital symptoms (3.73 vs. 3.24, t = 2.24, p = .036), EMG (Average 9.64 vs. 17.81, t = 2.29, p = .039; Peak 15.94 vs. 53.24, t = 2.46, p = .029), and 3 aspects HRQL (Physical functioning 78.4 vs. 83.2, t = 2.28, p = .035; Role limitation due to physical problems 60.2 vs. 76.1, t = 2.26, p = .044; Bodily pain 65.5 vs. 79.0, t = 2.48, p = .022). In the reference group, improvements were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Study results confirmed the positive effects of this program on women’s urogenital health, perianal surface EMG, and HRQL. Results of this study may lead to accessible intervention and strategy to improve women’s urogenital health.