Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on core strength, flexibility and body awareness. It has shown promising benefits for several health conditions, including urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is a common problem that affects many women, especially those who have given birth or experience age-related changes in their pelvic floor muscles.

Several studies have investigated the effects of Pilates on urinary incontinence. One study compared the effects of a Pilates exercise programme with conventional pelvic floor muscle training in people with post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. The results showed that both Pilates and pelvic floor muscle training led to improvements in pelvic floor muscle strength, with no significant differences between the two groups. This suggests that Pilates may be a viable alternative to traditional pelvic floor muscle training for the relief of urinary incontinence symptoms.

Another study compared group-based Pilates with individual pelvic floor muscle training in older women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence. The results showed that both group-based Pilates and individual pelvic floor muscle training were effective in reducing urinary incontinence symptoms. Furthermore, group-based Pilates was not inferior to individual pelvic floor muscle training, suggesting that it may be a more cost-effective option for managing urinary incontinence in older women.

It is important to note that although Pilates can be beneficial for urinary incontinence, they may not be suitable for everyone. In conclusion, Pilates has been shown to be effective in the management of urinary incontinence. These treatments can improve pelvic floor muscle strength and reduce the symptoms of urinary incontinence. However, it is important to consider individual factors and seek advice from a healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate treatment approach.

Jose Antonio Moral Muñoz

References:

1. Dumoulin, C., Morin, M., Danieli, C., Cacciari, L., Mayrand, M., Tousignant, M., … y Abrahamowicz, M. (2020). Entrenamiento muscular del piso pélvico grupal vs individual para tratar la incontinencia urinaria en mujeres mayores. JAMA Intern Med, 10(180), 1284. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2993
2. Gomes, C., Pedriali, F., Urbano, M., Moreira, E., Averbeck, M., Almeida, S. (2017). Los efectos del método Pilates en la fuerza muscular del suelo pélvico en pacientes con incontinencia urinaria post-prostatectomía: un ensayo clínico aleatorizado. Neurourología y Urodinámica, 1(37), 346-353. https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.23300