Welcome to our Research Resource page. Here you will find the list of recommended open access scientific readings for each new year, including links to these full text articles.

The Research Team’s Desktop

Here is the 2022 Reading List our Research Subcommittee has put together for you.

All listed articles have been published throughout the year and are Open Access, meaning you can access the article freely. They have been organized into categories to help you quickly find what you are interested in. 

Pregnancy-Related Dysfunctions:

Yang X, Zhang A, Sayer L, Bassett S, Woodward S. The effectiveness of group-based pelvic floor muscle training in preventing and treating urinary incontinence for antenatal and postnatal women: a systematic review. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Jun;33(6):1407-1420. doi: 10.1007/s00192-021-04960-2. Epub 2021 Aug 28. PMID: 34453550; PMCID: PMC9206632.

Okeahialam NA, Wong KW, Jha S, Sultan AH, Thakar R. Mediolateral/lateral episiotomy with operative vaginal delivery and the risk reduction of obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Jun;33(6):1393-1405. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05145-1. Epub 2022 Apr 15. PMID: 35426490; PMCID: PMC9206628.

Johnson, K. T., Williams, P. G., & Hill, A. J. (2022). The Importance of Information: Prenatal Education Surrounding Birth-Related Pelvic Floor Trauma Mitigates Symptom-Related Distress. Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy, https://doi.org/10.1097/JWH.0000000000000229 46(2), 62-72.

Sainz-Bueno JA, Bonomi MJ, Suárez-Serrano C, Medrano-Sánchez EM, Armijo A, Fernández-Palacín A, García-Mejido JA. Quantification of 3/4D ultrasound pelvic floor changes induced by postpartum muscle training in patients with levator ani muscle avulsion: a parallel randomized controlled trial. Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2022 Apr;12(4):2213-2223. doi: 10.21037/qims-21-877. PMID: 35371949; PMCID: PMC8923858.

Diastasis and Abdominal Dysfunctions:

Kaufmann RL, Reiner CS, Dietz UA, Clavien PA, Vonlanthen R, Käser SA. Normal width of the linea alba, prevalence, and risk factors for diastasis recti abdominis in adults, a cross-sectional study. Hernia. 2022 Apr;26(2):609-618. doi: 10.1007/s10029-021-02493-7. Epub 2021 Oct 5. PMID: 34609664; PMCID: PMC9012734.

Men’s Health:

Stafford, RE,  Doorbar-Baptist, S,  Hodges, PW.  The relationship between pre- and postprostatectomy measures of pelvic floor muscle function and development of early incontinence after surgery. Neurourol Urodyn.  2022; 41: 1722- 1730. doi:10.1002/nau.25034

Pelvic Pain Conditions:

Starzec-Proserpio M, Grigol Bardin M, Fradette J, Tu LM, Bérubè-Lauzière Y, Paré J, Carroll M-S, Morin M. High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) as an Emerging Treatment for Vulvodynia and Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Disorders: A Systematic Review of Treatment Efficacy. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022; 11(13):3701. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11133701

Oncology:

Colombage, U. N., Soh, S. E., Lin, K. Y., Vincent, A., White, M., Fox, J., & Frawley, H. C. (2022). Factors associated with pelvic floor dysfunction in women with breast cancer. Continence, 2, 100494.

Friedenreich CM, Vallance JK, McNeely ML, Culos-Reed SN, Matthews CE, Bell GJ, Mackey JR, Kopciuk KA, Dickau L, Wang Q, Cook D, Wharton S, McNeil J, Ryder-Burbidge C, Morielli AR, Courneya KS. The Alberta moving beyond breast cancer (AMBER) cohort study: baseline description of the full cohort. Cancer Causes Control. 2022 Mar;33(3):441-453. doi: 10.1007/s10552-021-01539-6. Epub 2022 Jan 22. PMID: 35064432; PMCID: PMC8821077.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse:

Bø K, Anglès-Acedo S, Batra A, Brækken IH, Chan YL, Jorge CH, Kruger J, Yadav M, Dumoulin C. International urogynecology consultation chapter 3 committee 2; conservative treatment of patient with pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor muscle training. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Oct;33(10):2633-2667. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05324-0. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 35980443; PMCID: PMC9477909.

Reading List and Other Resources from Previous Years:

2021

Incontinence:

  • Hagen S, Bugge C, Dean SG, Elders A, Hay-Smith J, Kilonzo M, McClurg D, Abdel-Fattah M, Agur W, Andreis F, Booth J, Dimitrova M, Gillespie N, Glazener C, Grant A, Guerrero KL, Henderson L, Kovandzic M, McDonald A, Norrie J, Sergenson N, Stratton S, Taylor A, Williams LR. Basic versus biofeedback-mediated intensive pelvic floor muscle training for women with urinary incontinence: the OPAL RCT. Health Technol Assess. 2020 Dec;24(70):1-144. doi: 10.3310/hta24700.
  • Yang DY, Zhao LN, Qiu MX. Treatment for overactive bladder: A meta-analysis of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation versus percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100(20):e25941. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000025941

Diastasis and Abdominal Dysfunctions:

  • Gluppe S, Engh ME, Bø K. What is the evidence for abdominal and pelvic floor muscle training to treat diastasis recti abdominis postpartum? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Braz J Phys Ther. 2021 Jul 21:S1413-3555(21)00073-3. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2021.06.006. Epub ahead of print. 
  • Vesting S, Olsen MF, Gutke A, Rembeck G, Larsson MEH. Clinical assessment of pelvic floor and abdominal muscles 3 months post partum: an inter-rater reliability study. BMJ Open. 2021 Sep 2;11(9):e049082. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049082

Pelvic Pain and Dyspareunia Conditions:

  • López-Liria R, Torres-Álamo L, Vega-Ramírez FA, et al. Efficacy of Physiotherapy Treatment in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(15):7832. Published 2021 Jul 23. doi:10.3390/ijerph18157832
  • van Reijn-Baggen DA, Han-Geurts IJM, Voorham-van der Zalm PJ, Pelger RCM, Hagenaars-van Miert CHAC, Laan ETM. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Pelvic Floor Hypertonicity: A Systematic Review of Treatment Efficacy. Sex Med Rev. 2021 Jun 11:S2050-0521(21)00012-3. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2021.03.002. Epub ahead of print.

Pregnancy-related dysfunctions:

  • Smeets CFA, Vergeldt TFM, Notten KJB, Martens FMJ, van Kuijk SMJ. Association between levator ani avulsion and urinary incontinence in women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2021;153(1):25-32. doi:10.1002/ijgo.13496
  • Wang H, Feng X, Liu Z, Liu Y, Xiong R. A rehabilitation programme focussing on pelvic floor muscle training for persistent lumbopelvic pain after childbirth: A randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2021 Apr 12;53(4):jrm00180. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2812
  • Wu TF, Huang LH, Lai YF, Chen GD, Ng SC. Early postpartum biofeedback assisted pelvic floor muscle training in primiparous women with second degree perineal laceration: Effect on sexual function and lower urinary tract symptoms. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Jan;60(1):78-83. doi: 10.1016/j.tjog.2020.11.011.

Men’s Health:

  • Schoentgen N, Califano G, Manfredi C, et al. Is it Worth Starting Sexual Rehabilitation Before Radical Prostatectomy? Results From a Systematic Review of the Literature. Front Surg. 2021;8:648345. Published 2021 Apr 21. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.648345
  • Strojek K, Weber-Rajek M, Strączyńska A, Piekorz Z, Pilarska B, Jarzemski P, Kozakiewicz M, Brzoszczyk B, Jarzemski M, Styczyńska H, Goch A, Radzimińska A. Randomized-Controlled Trial Examining the Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Men after a Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy Pilot Study. J Clin Med. 2021 Jun 30;10(13):2946. doi: 10.3390/jcm10132946 

Neurology:

  • Gopal A, Sydow R, Block V, Allen DD. Effectiveness of Physical Therapy in Addressing Sexual Dysfunction in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int J MS Care. 2021;23(5):213-222. doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2020-039

2020 

Mckellar K, Bellin E, Schoenbaum E, Abraham N. Prevalence, risk factors, and treatment for overactive bladder in a racially diverse population. Urology. 2019 Apr 1;126:70-5.

Dunivan GC, Cichowski SB, Komesu YM, Fairchild PS, Anger JT, Rogers RG. Ethnicity and variations of pelvic organ prolapse bother. International urogynecology journal. 2014 Jan 1;25(1):53-9.

Mandimika CL, William MU, Mcpencow AM, AeuMuro LA, Miller D, Connell KA, Guess MK. Racial disparities in knowledge of pelvic floor disorders among community-dwelling women. Female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery. 2015 Sep;21(5):287.

During the pandemic, there is an urgent need to draw on the clinical knowledge of our colleagues from around the globe. Using the best available evidence and clinical experts Dr. Thomas and colleagues did just that to develop the recommendations below. This document will be revised and updated as we learn more about Covid-19. 

Newsletter Articles (full text)

Rachael Moses and Dr. Bernie Bissett chat about how these practice recommendations were developed in the video below: 

Previous years
Reach out to us at whdresearch@gmail.com for our 2018 and 2019 lists.

Have you read any interesting open access articles recently? We would love to read it and share it with our members, please send the link to whdresearch@gmail.com

Open Access

Open access journals publish articles that are free to read and download by everyone and anyone. If you are not familiar with how open access journals work check out the video below.  Then start exploring some of the journals we have hand picked  for our members to check out. We have provided click-able links to make you evidence-informed practice reading time that much easier. 

Quick Review

What does it mean to be peer reviewed?

An article that has gone through a peer review means that it has been evaluated and approved by experts in the same field before it has been published by a research journal.

What is an impact factor?

The impact factor of a journal is a score given to a journal that takes into account how many times articles in the journal have been cited and divides this by the number of citable articles published in the two previous years. An impact factor of 1 would mean that the articles published 1-2 years ago were cited at least once. 

Have you come across a journal that is open access and you think it should be added to this page?  We would love to hear from you. 

Send our Knowledge Translation Committee an email at whdresearch@gmail.com

Are you interested in becoming a member of the Women's Health Division?

Members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association are eligible to join the WHD for only $35 per year. You can join at any time in the year and, upon joining, you will receive access to our members only resources. 

The WHD offers a variety of resources for both researchers and clinicians: 

  • Quarterly newsletters that include information in different areas of women’s health as well as related articles and book reviews

  • Monthly e-blasts that highlight upcoming courses, job listings, and up-to-date WHD news

  • The ability to network with other physiotherapists who are interested in women’s health

  • Access to the members only section of the WHD website, which includes:

    • Educational resources for physiotherapists, researchers, and patients/clients

    • Access to women’s health research articles and research journal links

    • Up-to-date WHD news

    • Save on WHD-sponsored events and continuing education courses whenever possible

    • Recordings of previously hosted webinars

    • Ability to apply for awards only available to WHD members

  • Help to influence, direct, and support the advocacy efforts of the division

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Are you interested in becoming a member of the Women's Health Division?

Members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association are eligible to join the WHD for only $35 per year. You can join at any time in the year and, upon joining, you will receive access to our members only resources. 

The WHD offers a variety of resources for both researchers and clinicians: 

  • Quarterly newsletters that include information in different areas of women’s health as well as related articles and book reviews

  • Monthly e-blasts that highlight upcoming courses, job listings, and up-to-date WHD news

  • The ability to network with other physiotherapists who are interested in women’s health

  • Access to the members only section of the WHD website, which includes:

    • Educational resources for physiotherapists, researchers, and patients/clients

    • Access to women’s health research articles and research journal links

    • Up-to-date WHD news

    • Save on WHD-sponsored events and continuing education courses whenever possible

    • Recordings of previously hosted webinars

    • Ability to apply for awards only available to WHD members

  • Help to influence, direct, and support the advocacy efforts of the division

Login