IMPACT OF CORE AND PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLES STRENGTHENING AMONG OBESE POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY – AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Background: Obesity is more common in middle age women especially after menopause because of hormonal imbalance and it is also followed by estrogen depletion affecting the pelvic floor muscles. The global consensus is that individuals with type II diabetes should avoid improper mechanical overloads in order to minimize the risk of tissue damage. Objective:To evaluate the impact of core and pelvic floor muscles strengthening among obese postmenopausal women with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. Methodology : A Quasi experimental study was conducted for 25 obese postmenopausal women with diagnosed Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy with regular medications were included in this study. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation for core (combination of Rhythmic stabilization training [RST] and isometric exercises) and pelvic floor muscles was taught for 12weeks, 3 days in a week. The training session was conducted for 50 mins with 5mins warm-up and 5 mins cool down period. The outcome measures included in the study are One Minute Sit Up , Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory(PFDI). The pre and post test values were measured. RESULT: There was a significant difference (P-0.05) after the comparison of the pre and post values in the group after the 12 weeks of intervention. The mean value of one minute sit up score before the test was 4.68 (SD ±2.30) and after the test was 8.28 (SD±2.42), which indicate that 1 minute sit up score was increased after the treatment. The mean value of PFDI score before and after the test was 16.88 (SD±3.99) and 13.12 (SD ±2.03) respectively, indicating that the mean PFDI score has decreased after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Thus, this study concludes that obese postmenopausal women with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy can be beneficial using PNF techniques with isometric exercises and thereby their quality of life improves which has been proved in this study using one minute sit – up score and reduction in PFDI score within the group.