Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises for the Management of Urinary Incontinence Historical Review

Urinary incontinence is a significant health issue, and various international organizations (ICS, IUGA, AUA, EAU) have concentrated on managing this condition. Conservative management, especially programs for Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises (PFME), is of particular interest.The earliest known texts date back to antiquity, but after a long period of inactivity during the Middle Ages, individual cases began to be reported from the ۱۶th to ۱۸th centuries. Scientific interest in the topic resumed in the mid-۱۸۰۰s in Sweden, followed by the UK. Physiotherapy developed into an independent profession at the end of the ۱۹th century, and in ۱۹۲۱, Mary McMillan (USA) founded the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Miss Minnie Randel introduced pelvic floor exercises for women in the maternity ward in ۱۹۳۶. Margaret Morris, a student of M. Randel, created an exercise system emphasizing conscious contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. Prof Arnold Kegel, known as the “father” of PFME, established Kegel’s exercises as a regular practice in ۱۹۴۸. In the ۱۹۷۰s, Dorothy Mandelstam developed a new physiotherapy internship, and Dr. Jo Laycock became the first physiotherapist to join the ICS Board. Over the past ۲۰ years, the importance of PFME for managing post-prostatectomy incontinence has been documented.In conclusion, physiotherapists specializing in the pelvic floor, as part of a multidisciplinary team with urologists and urogynecologists, play an active role in managing patients with urinary incontinence.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pelvic floor ، Physical Therapists ، Conservative Treatment ، Urinary incontinence