Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength and the Postural Balance in Middle-Aged Women: A Pilot Study

Aim: To investigate if pelvic floor muscles' (PFMs') strength is associated with postural balance in middle-aged women. Methods: The participants were 22 middle-aged women (age: 57 +/- 6 years). They completed a clinical and urogynecological evaluation, PFMs' strength testing using a perineometer, and balance testing on a force platform. The balance variables analyzed were anteroposterior (AP) and side-to-side (SS) center of pressure (COP) displacement; 95% elliptical COP area (cm(2)), AP and SS COP displacement median frequency. Results: PFMs' strength was moderately correlated with SS COP displacement and with AP COP median frequency in semi-tandem. Age and educational level affected the relationship between PFMs' strength and balance. Conclusion: PFMs' strength had the strongest associations with SS COP displacement in eyes-open semi-tandem and AP COP median frequency in eyes-closed semi-tandem. Thus, these results allow us to conclude that there may be some relationship between pelvic floor muscle strength and postural balance in middle-aged women.