Effects of yoga on the intervention of levator ani hiatus in postpartum women: a prospective study.
Qunfeng Li, Xinling Zhang
PMID 34776624WHAT IT FOUND
Postpartum women doing yoga from week 1 to 12 showed a smaller levator ani hiatus area at week 12 than controls at rest and during straining, but no difference in muscle contraction.
This suggests yoga may help pelvic floor structure recover, though long-term effects are unknown.
Key findings
01At week 12, the yoga group had a significantly smaller levator ani hiatus area than the control group at rest, during contraction, and during Valsalva maneuver.
02The change in hiatus area between week 6 and week 12 was significantly greater in the yoga group at rest and during Valsalva, but not during contraction.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study only evaluated outcomes up to 12 weeks postpartum, so long-term benefits or risks are unknown. The control group's management was not described, making it unclear if they received standard care or no care. The lack of significant difference in LAH area during muscle contraction at week 12 suggests the effect might be more structural than functional in terms of active muscle strength. Participants were recruited from a single center, which may limit generalizability.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Key Research Platform of Guangdong Universities and Young Innovative Talents of Research Projects, and the Planning Project of Philosophy and Social Science in Jinwan District of Zhuhai City.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume yoga improves active pelvic floor muscle strength. The study found no significant difference between groups in the change of hiatus area during muscle contraction, suggesting the benefit may lie in structural support at rest and under strain rather than in enhanced contractile function.