A review on scope of hypopressive exercise in postpartum women with pelvic floor dysfunction

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) is a prevalent complication among postpartum women, commonly leading to urinary incontinence, reduced muscle strength, and impaired quality of life. Traditional interventions like Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT) are often challenged by low adherence and difficulty in voluntary muscle activation during the early postpartum period. Hypopressive Exercises (HE), also known as the Abdominal Hypopressive Technique (AHT), offer an alternative by promoting reflexive activation of the pelvic floor and core muscles through postural and respiratory control. This literature review evaluates the effectiveness of hypopressive exercises in postpartum women with PFD by analyzing 10 key studies, including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and systematic reviews. The results indicate that HE significantly improves pelvic floor muscle strength, reduces urinary incontinence severity, and enhances quality of life. Moreover, HE shows promise as a non-invasive, low-impact intervention suitable for early postpartum rehabilitation, especially for women who struggle with active PFMT. Despite encouraging outcomes, further high-quality research with standardized protocols is necessary to validate its integration into routine physiotherapy practice.