Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42878790›Full record

ArticleInternational urogynecology journal2026

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Outperforms Pilates in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Fernanda Araújo Borges, Eleusa Pascoal Rodrigues, Wanessa Silva Oliveira, Luciene Aparecida José-Vaz, Bruno Teixeira Bernardes, Ana Paula Magalhães Resende

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Article in International urogynecology journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Fernanda Araújo BorgesPhysiotherapy Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Uberlândia, R. Benjamin Constant, 1286, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-678, Brazil.
Eleusa Pascoal RodriguesPhysiotherapy Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Uberlândia, R. Benjamin Constant, 1286, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-678, Brazil.
Wanessa Silva OliveiraPhysiotherapy Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Uberlândia, R. Benjamin Constant, 1286, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-678, Brazil.
Luciene Aparecida José-VazPhysiotherapy Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Uberlândia, R. Benjamin Constant, 1286, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-678, Brazil.
Bruno Teixeira BernardesObstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.
Ana Paula Magalhães ResendePhysiotherapy Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Uberlândia, R. Benjamin Constant, 1286, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38400-678, Brazil. anapaulamrb@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1788-7221

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introduction and hypothesisThe objective was to compare the effects of a Pilates exercise program performed with or without voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction versus pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on urinary incontinence impact and pelvic floor muscle function in women with stress urinary incontinence.

methodsA randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups: Pilates, Pilates + voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction (Pilates + VPFMC), and PFMT was conducted. The primary outcome was the impact of urinary incontinence assessed by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Secondary outcomes included pelvic floor muscle strength (Modified Oxford Scale) and vaginal squeeze pressure (Peritron manometry). Participants completed 12 supervised sessions over 6 weeks. Outcomes were assessed by a blinded evaluator.

resultsA significant overall effect of time was observed for ICIQ-SF scores, pelvic floor muscle strength, and vaginal squeeze pressure (p < 0.001). The mean reduction in ICIQ-SF was -0.7 for Pilates, -0.7 for Pilates + VPFMC, and -4.4 for PFMT. PFMT demonstrated superior outcomes compared with both Pilates groups across all the outcomes assessed. Pelvic floor muscle strength increased by 0.3, 0.7, and 1.7 points (Modified Oxford Scale), and peak vaginal squeeze pressure increased by 5.7, 6.1, and 24.4 mmHg in the Pilates, Pilates + VPFMC, and PFMT groups respectively. Between the Pilates groups, a difference was observed only in muscle strength, favoring the Pilates + VPFMC group.

conclusionsPelvic floor muscle training was superior to Pilates in reducing the impact of urinary incontinence and improving pelvic floor muscle function, regardless of the inclusion of voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction.

Indexed as

Muscle strengthPelvic floor muscle trainingPilatesStress urinary incontinence

Identifiers

PMID42878790

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.