Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:27:11Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 sartori_dvb_me_botfm.pdf: 798212 bytes, checksum: 1e163ee316520ce8224fddb60879f42b (MD5) / O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a função e a reprodutibilidade da avaliação subjetiva do assoalho pélvico, utilizando a palpação vaginal digital, em mulheres continentes de diferentes faixas etárias. Foram estudadas prospectivamente 150 mulheres multíparas, saudáveis, sem disfunções urinárias, distribuídas em quatro grupos, G1 (n=37) mulheres na faixa etária de 30 a 40 anos, G2 (n=39) na faixa de 41 a 50 anos, G3 (n=39) na faixa de 51 a 60 anos e G4 (n=35) acima de 60 anos. Os dados demográficos, como idade, número de partos, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), atividade física e sexual, foram obtidos por questionário. A avaliação subjetiva dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAP) foi feita por palpação digital da vagina nas porções anterior e posterior por três examinadores. Foi utilizada a classificação descrita por Amaro e col, 2003, foi garantido sigilo entre os examinadores. A média de idade foi de 35, 45, 54 e 66 anos em G1, G2, G3 e G4 respectivamente. 69,3% das mulheres tinham atividade sexual e 40,7% atividade física regular. O IMC foi classificado como normal no G1 e pré-obeso no G2, G3 e G4, sendo significativamente menor no G1 em relação ao G4 (p<0,05). O número de partos vaginais foi menor no G2 em relação ao G4 (p<0,05), e de cesáreas foi menor no G4 em relação aos grupos G2 e G3. Não houve diferença estatística significativa entre os graus de contração muscular e entre a porção anterior e posterior do AP (p>0,05). A concordância plena da palpação digital na porção anterior foi de 44,7% e na posterior 55,3%, não houve diferença estatística significativa. Houve concordância entre os diferentes examinadores do método subjetivo de palpação digital do AP na porção anterior e posterior do AP independente da faixa etária garantindo a reprodutibilidade do método. / The aim of this study is to assess the function and the reproductibility of subjective evaluation of pelvic floor muscle (PMF) using the digital vaginal palpation in continent women from different age ranges. 150 healthy multipararous women were studied with no urinary dysfunction, distributed in four different groups: G1 (n=31) from 30 to 40 years; G2 (n=39) from 41 to 50 years; G3 (n= 39) from 51 to 60 years; and G4 (n=35) over 60 years. The demographic data, such as age, number of deliveries, body mass index ( BMI ), physical and sexual activity, were all obtained using a questionnaire. The subjective assessments of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM ) were performed by three different examiners using transvaginal digital palpation (TDP) in the anterior and posterior areas. It was used tha classification as described by Amaro et al, 2003, the secret amongst the examiners was granted. The ages were in average 35, 45, 54 and 66 years old in G1, G2, G3 and G4 respectively. 69,3% of the women had sexual activity and 40,7% had regular physical activities. The BMI was classified was significantly lower in G1 in comparasion to G4 (p<0,05). The number of natural deliveries was lower in G2 in comparasion to G4 ( p<0,05), and the number of caesarian was lower in G4 in comparasion to groups G2 and G3. There was no statistical difference between the subjective evaluation of PMF, neither the anterior and posterior area Threre was 44,7% agreement among the different examiners using TDP in the anterior and of 55,3%in the posterior, there was no statistical difference. There was an agreement among the different examiners in the subjective evaluation of PMF using TDP in the anterior and posterior area independent of the age range, demonstrating the reproducibility of this method.

Orientadores: Ellen Hardy, Maria Jose Duarte Osis / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-09T15:36:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Piassarolli_VirginiaPianessole_M.pdf: 1574642 bytes, checksum: 10e3984c4df0ae343e29dc1ec0424b06 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Objetivo: avaliar o efeito do treinamento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAP) nas disfunções sexuais femininas. Sujeitos e Métodos: realizou-se um ensaio clínico com 26 mulheres que apresentavam diagnóstico de disfunção sexual (transtorno de desejo sexual, transtorno de excitação, transtorno orgástico e dispareunia) no período de fevereiro de 2008 a maio de 2009. Foi administrado um questionário denominado FSFI (Female Sexual Function Índex) para verificar a função sexual. A contração dos músculos do assoalho pélvico foi avaliada por meio da palpação vaginal (bi-digital) e, em seguida, realizou-se uma eletromiografia de superfície para avaliar amplitudes de contração. Tais procedimentos ocorreram previamente, na metade e após o tratamento. As mulheres realizaram exercícios para os músculos do assoalho pélvico em diferentes posições, uma ou duas vezes por semana, totalizando 10 sessões de tratamento. Na análise das variáveis ao longo do tempo, utilizou-se o teste não-paramétrico e o Anova de Friedman, o teste de Bonferroni e o teste de correlação de Spearman. Adotou-se um nível de significância de p<0,05 para análise dos dados. Resultados: Observou-se uma melhora significativa (p<0,0001) dos escores de todos os domínios e do escore total do FSFI ao final do tratamento quando comparadas a avaliação inicial e intermediária. Em relação a eletromiografia de superfície, as amplitudes das contrações fásicas e tônicas aumentaram significativamente (p<0,0001) ao longo do tratamento. Houve também um aumento na força do assoalho pélvico, com 69% das mulheres apresentando grau 4 ou 5 na avaliação final. Ao final do tratamento, a maioria das participantes (18) recebeu alta por não mais apresentar queixas relativas à função sexual. Conclusão: O treinamento dos MAP resultou em melhora na força e nas amplitudes da eletromiografia, acompanhadas de aumento significativo nos escores de função sexual, o que indica que essa abordagem terapêutica pode ser utilizada com sucesso no tratamento das disfunções sexuais femininas / Abstract:Objective: To evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in female sexual dysfunctions. Subjects and Methods: 26 women with a diagnosis of sexual dysfunction (sexual desire, arousal, orgasmic disorders and dyspareunia) were enrolled in a clinical trial, between February 2008 and May 2009. To evaluate the sexual function we used Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Bi-digital palpation was applied to assess muscle strength and surface electromyography to contraction amplitudes. The assessment was carried out before, during (after five sessions) and at the end of the treatment (after 10 sessions). The women underwent pelvic floor muscle training, once or twice a week, for 10 sessions in different positions. To analysis during the follow-up period, non parametric's and ANOVA's Friedman test, Bonferroni test and Spearman Correlation test were applied. Results were considered statistically significant if p<0.05. Results: All FSFI scores were higher (p<0.0001) at the end of the treatment in comparison with the values observed before and in the middle of the treatment. Regarding surface electromyography, tonic and phasic contractions amplitudes significantly increased over time (p<0.0001). Pelvic floor strength also increased in 69% of the women who had 4 or 5 grade in final evaluation. Eighteen participants had a total improvement of sexual complaints at the end of the treatment. Conclusions: The pelvic floor muscle training improved strength and surface electromyography amplitudes while the sexual function scores increased. This indicates that physiotherapy approach may be successfully used in the female sexual dysfunctions treatment / Mestrado / Tocoginecologia / Mestre em Tocoginecologia

Le système pelvien féminin est un système complexe jouant un rôle primordial dans la miction, la défécation et la reproduction. Il comprend de nombreux organes, muscles et ligaments tous interconnectés. Malheureusement le système pelvien peut subir de nombreuses pathologies l’une d’entre elle étant le prolapsus, ou la descente d’organe, se définissant comme déplacement anormal d’un ou plusieurs organes génitaux. Le prolapsus est une pathologie très répandue au sein de la population féminine. 1 femme sur 3 serait concernée, 1 sur 10 subissant un traitement chirurgical au cours de sa vie. Cette pathologie a d’importantes conséquences sur la qualité de vie des patientes. Son traitement se fait principalement par voie chirurgicale, mais de gros progrès doivent être faits dans ce domaine. En effet, les taux de récidive post-traitement peuvent atteindre des valeurs de 60% dans la littérature.Malgré la nécessité d’une amélioration des techniques chirurgicales celle-ci ne pourra avoir lieu sans une meilleure compréhension du comportement mécanique global de cette région très complexe et encore assez mal connue. Une connaissance approfondie de la mobilité du système pelvien sain par rapport au pathologique permettrait le développement de nouvelles techniques plus à même de soigner efficacement les patientes.Malgré de nombreuses études, un manque de compréhension mécanique est à noter. En effet très peu de données provenant de patientes jeunes et saines sont disponibles. De plus la plupart des tests réalisés sont des tests de tractions uniaxiales, qui sont par essence limités. Un manque cruel de relation entre les modèles phénoménologiques et cliniques est également à regretter.Dans ce travail nous avons donc réalisés des tests uniaxiaux sur différents tissus de cadavres jeunes (<40 ans). Cela nous a permis de prouver l’hyper-élasticité et la grande déformabilité des tissus pelviens jeunes et de mieux comprendre les phénomènes de vieillissement et d’endommagements de ces tissus en les comparants aux nombreuses données de la littérature. Nous avons ainsi pu monter que les ligaments et le vagin subissaient un vieillissement de nature différente à la vessie et au rectum. Ce vieillissement que nous avons nommé « traumatique » entraine un allongement et un raidissement non réversible des tissus à niveau en rien comparable à un vieillissement « naturel ».Notre étude mécanique s’est également élargie en testant les accolements entre organes (vésico-vaginal et recto-vaginal) en les soumettant à une contrainte de cisaillement. Ce genre de tests est, à notre connaissance, une première pour les tissus mous biologiques. Nous avons ainsi pu montrer que le comportement mécanique de ces accolements était linéaire pour les petites déformations et bien que de rigidité faible par rapport aux tissus eux même, tout de même à prendre en compte dans de prochains modèle.Suite à cette étude purement mécanique nous avons tenté de mettre nos modèles phénoménologiques, dur d’accès aux professionnels de la santé, en relation avec des modèles cliniques, histologiques dans ce cas précis. Nous avons donc réalisé un modèle histologiquement fondée du comportement mécanique des tissus pelviens, mettant en relation les taux d’élastine et de collagène d’un tissu à son comportement mécanique. A l’aide de ce modèle, inspiré de la physique des élastomères à plusieurs phases, nous avons pu corréler les taux d’élastine et de collagène d’un tissu à sa rigidité et ainsi rendre plus accessible un modèle complexe.Nous avons ensuite voulu faire le bilan de nos connaissances sur la compréhension des prolapsus et dans quelle mesure notre étude nous a permis de l’approfondir. Nous nous sommes évidemment concentrés sur les modes d’endommagements et leurs conséquences d’un point de vue mécanique et histologique. Dans un but de clarté nous avons traités d’exemples précis afin d’illustrer nos propos, comme le vieillissement, l’accouchement par voie basse ou la cystocèle. / The pelvic floor is a complex anatomical system involved in urination, defecation and reproduction. It is composed of several organs, muscles and ligaments, all interconnected. Unfortunately the pelvic floor can suffer from several pathologies like prolapses. Prolapses are defined as an abnormal displacement of one or more pelvic organs. Prolapses are widespread in the woman population. One woman out of three would be affected, one out of ten undergoing a surgical treatment in her life. This pathology has tremendous consequences on the patient quality of life. Its treatment is mainly surgical, but big improvements are needed. Indeed, the recurrence rate could reach up to 60% in the literature.The improvement of surgical technics will only be possible with a better global mechanical understanding of the pelvic floor. A deep understanding of the healthy pelvic floor mobility compared to the pathological would allow for the development of technics to better treat patients.Even though several studies have been done, a lack of mechanical understanding is to be noted. Indeed very few data coming from healthy young patients are available. Moreover most tests are uniaxial testing, which are by essence quite limited. A lack of relationship between phenomenological and clinical models is also to be noted.Within our study we have then realized uniaxial testing of different tissues from young cadavers (<40 years old). That allowed us to prove the hyper-elasticity and the great deformability of young pelvic tissues. It also helped us to better understand the ageing and damaging processes of those tissues by comparing them to data available in the literature. We could should that the ligaments and the vagina undergo a different ageing process than the rectum and the bladder. That ageing that we defined as “traumatic” induces much stronger non-reversible stretching and stiffening of the tissues than a “natural” ageing.Our mechanical study broadened up by looking at bindings between organs (vesico-vaginal and recto-vaginal). Those bindings have been, for the first time to our knowledge, under shear conditions. We could then show that those binding have a linear mechanical behavior for small displacements and that their stiffness even though limited should be taken into account in numerical models.Following that purely mechanical study we tried to accommodate our models to a public of medical professionals, by linking our phenomenological models to clinical ones, histological in that case. We then realized a histologically based model of the mechanical behavior of pelvic tissues, linking the rate of collagen and elastin of a tissue to its mechanical behavior. Thanks to that model, inspired by the physics of polymers we could correlate the collagen and elastin rates of a tissue to its rigidity and therefore make a complex model more accessible.We then gathered our knowledge on the understanding of prolapses and observed how our study could deepen it. We focused on the ageing and damaging processes and their consequences from a mechanical and histological point of view. To help the understanding we looked at precise examples like ageing, vaginal delivery or cystocele.

Ett produktutvecklingsprojekt har utförts på Högskolan i Skövde under våren 2017 i samverkan med företaget China Euro Vehicle Technology AB (CEVT). CEVT arbetar med forskning och utveckling inom bilindustrin och ägs av Geely Auto. I och med pågående trend och utveckling mot fullt elektriska personbilar ville CEVT med detta examensarbete undersöka hur volymen mellan framstolarna kunde disponeras, då handbroms och växelspak uteblir. Målet med uppdraget var att utveckla ett konceptförslag av golvkonsol till elbil för att riktas till den kinesiska marknaden utifrån företagets krav och målgruppens behov. Projektet inleddes med en förstudie vilken innefattade intervjuer med målgruppen och experter samt en marknadsundersökning. I förstudien undersöktes användaren och dess behov samt befintliga och framtida bilinteriörer. Framtagen information sammanställdes i en kravspecifikation tillsammans med baskrav från företaget. Koncept genererades utifrån kommande trender samt fastställda funktioner och utvärderades i flera steg. Koncept har utvärderats tillsammans med företaget, genom ergonomisimulering och användartest med en fullskalig prototyp. Resultatet är utformat i två nivåer med en teknologisk överdel, där laddplats för mobil finns placerad samt en interaktionsyta till instrumentpanelen och en underdel med fokus på förvaring. Resultatet innehåller uppdelade förvaringsutrymmen vilka är anpassade till målgruppens användare och deras tillhörigheter. Golvkonsolen är utformad med fokus på flexibilitet, funktionalitet och justerbarhet, då tillbehör kan förflyttas och bytas ut samt att armstöd och överdel kan justeras utefter behov. / A product development project has been carried out at University of Skövde in collaboration with China Euro Vehicle Technology AB (CEVT). CEVT works with research and development in the automotive industry and is owned by Geely Auto. With current trends towards developing full electric cars, CEVT wanted to explore how the space between the two front seats could be dispensed, with no handbrake or gearshift. The aim of the thesis was to develop a floor console for an electric car adapted to the Chinese market and the company's requirements. The project began with a pre study which included interviews with the target group and experts as well as a market research. The pre study studied user needs and different car interiors. The information was compiled in a requirement specification together with demands from the company. Concepts were generated based on future trends and identified functions and then evaluated in several steps. The concept has been evaluated with the company, through ergonomic simulation and a user test with a full-scale prototype. The result is designed in two levels, the top focuses on technology where a charging station is placed as well as an interaction area for the dashboard the base is instead focused on storage. The result contains different storage solutions customized and developed for the user and their belongings. The floor console is designed with focus on flexibility, functionality and adjustability as parts can be moved and replaced. The armrest and top can also be adjusted according to different needs.

RIC-8B é um fator trocador de nucleotídeo de guanina (GEF) predominantemente expresso em neurônios olfatórios maduros de camundongos adultos. Trabalhos desenvolvidos em nosso laboratório mostraram que RIC-8B interage com G&#945;olf e G&#947;13, duas subunidades de proteína G que estão enriquecidas nos cílios dos neurônios olfatórios, onde participam da transdução do sinal de odorantes. In vitro, RIC-8B é capaz de amplificar a sinalização de receptores olfatórios através de G&#945;olf, no entanto, seu papel fisiológico ainda é desconhecido. Para determinar a função desempenhada por essa proteína in vivo, nós utilizamos a tecnologia de Gene Trap com o objetivo de produzir um camundongo knockout para Ric-8B. Apesar de a expressão de Ric-8B ser restrita a poucos tecidos no camundongo adulto, descobrimos que homozigotos para a mutação em Ric-8B são inviáveis e morrem por volta do dia embrionário E10,5. Além disso, são menores e apresentam evidente falha no fechamento do tubo neural na região cranial (exencefalia). Utilizamos o gene repórter &#946;-galactosidase expresso pelo alelo mutado para determinar o padrão de expressão de Ric-8B em embriões durante o desenvolvimento. Observamos que, no estágio E8,5, Ric-8B é expresso nas pregas neurais da região cefálica e na notocorda. De E9,5 a E12,5, a expressão de Ric-8B é detectada predominante no assoalho da placa. Esse padrão de expressão se assemelha ao de outro gene importante para a embriogênese, Sonic hedgehog (Shh). SHH é um morfógeno diretamente responsável pela padronização dorsoventral do sistema nervoso central e sua sinalização depende de cílio primário. Cílio primário é uma organela baseada em microtúbulos que se projeta da superfície da maioria das células de mamíferos e funciona como um centro de sinalização intracelular. Nossos dados mostram que fibroblastos embrionários Ric-8B-/- formam cílios primários, assim como alguns tecidos do embrião. Além disso, não encontramos alterações na sinalização de Shh em embriões homozigotos mutantes. No entanto, observamos que esses embriões apresentam apoptose aumentada em células migratórias da crista neural cranial. Shh é importante para a sobrevivência de células da crista neural migratória, sugerindo um possível papel para Ric-8B a downstream da sinalização de SHH. / Ric-8B is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) which is predominantly expressed in mature olfactory sensory neurons in adult mice. We have previously shown that RIC-8B interacts with both G&#945;olf and G&#947;13, two G protein subunits, which are enriched in olfactory cilia and are required for odorant signal transduction. In vitro, RIC-8B is able to amplify odorant receptor signaling through G&#945;olf, however, its physiological role remains unknown. To determine the role played by RIC-8B in vivo we used the Gene trap technology to generate a Ric-8B knockout mouse. We found that, despite the limited distribution of Ric-8B gene expression in adult mice, Ric-8B homozygous mutants are not viable and die around the E10,5 stage. Mutant embryos are also smaller and fail to close the neural tube at the cranial region (exencephaly). We used the activity of the &#946;-galactosidase reporter gene to determine the pattern of expression of the Ric-8B gene in heterozygous embryos. At E8,5 the Ric-8B gene is expressed in the notochord and neural folds of the cephalic regions. From E9,5 to E12,5 Ric-8B is predominantly expressed in the floor plate, in a pattern that strongly resembles the one shown by Sonic hedgehog (Shh). SHH is a morphogen directly responsible for the dorsoventral patterning of the central nervous system and its signaling depends on primary cilia. Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles that protrude from the surface of mammalian cells and act as a signaling center. We show that Ric-8B-/- embryonic fibroblasts and some embryonic tissues grow primary cilia normally. In addition, we did not find alterations in the SHH signaling of homozygous mutants. Instead, we found an increased apopotosis in migratory cells of the cranial neural crest in these embryos. Shh is an important factor to survival of neural crest cells, suggesting a role for RIC-8B downstream of the SHH signaling.

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma nova formulação direta do Método dos Elementos de Contorno (M.E.C.) para análise de placas, utilizando a teoria de Kirchhoff, admitindo três parâmetros nodais de deslocamentos para sua representação integral: deslocamento transversal e suas derivadas nas direções normal e tangencial ao contorno. Dois valores nodais são usados para os esforços, momento fletor normal mn e força cortante equivalente Vn. Desta forma são escritas três equações integrais de contorno por nó, obtidas a partir da discretização da placa, segundo a forma usual do método. A vantagem mais perceptível desta formulação é a possibilidade de se fazer a ligação da placa analisada pelo M.E.C. com elementos lineares, representados por três valores nodais de deslocamentos que passam a ser compatibilizados diretamente, para a análise de edifícios. São apresentados exemplos numéricos da formulação e das ligações para comprovação da formulação. / The aim of this work is to present an alternative formulation for plate bending analysis, using Kirchhoff\'s theory, in wich the boundary equation for displacements and its derivative in tangential and normal directions to the boundary for each boundary node are used. The efforts, according to Kirchhoff\'s theory, are the normal bending mn and the equivalent shear force Vn. This formulation is adequate for the analysis of plates coupled with flexible colunms and beams because these structural elements have three nodal displacement values at its nodes. Many examples of single plates and buildings slab are presented using the formulation proposed in this work.

As the U.S. and world economies emerge from years of recession, the hardwood flooring market is currently enjoying strong growth. With this growth come new challenges for hardwood flooring manufacturers. Strong competition from foreign markets and rising log prices are reducing product margins and forcing companies to think lean, while improving product quality. QEP Wood Flooring division, who struggled through the worst of the U.S. economic down turn is now regaining ground as a strong competitor in the hardwood flooring market. This turnaround is due to internal changes to decrease waste and increase product quality. This is accomplished by using the quality control department as a tool to aid manufacturing. To accomplish these changes, QEP implemented the use of quality tools and employee awareness training; as a result QEP increased overall product quality and yields while reducing customer claim pay outs.

It has been observed that returning honey bee foragers congregate with unemployed foragers and food receiver bees in a localized region of the hive known as the dance floor. Here, the returning foragers advertise food sources via the waggle dance. It was hypothesized that the close proximity of the dance floor to the hive entrance was related to foragers minimizing time and travel inside the hive. The hive entrance is conventionally located at the bottom of the hive. It was suggested that this location was ideal for easy removal of debris. This correlation between dance floor location and hive entrance location invokes further examination of the relationship. Is the hive entrance location used to establish dance floor location? Using scan sampling- the hive was visually scanned along rows in a descending fashion from the top right corner to hive entrance. The location of each observed waggle dance was recorded for 30 minutes. Observations were conducted for three consecutive days, then the hive entrance location was displaced. The observation hive was altered to contain three hive entrances located adjacent to the bottom first frame, adjacent to the center of the second frame, and adjacent to the middle of the third frame. Only one hive entrance was open at a given time. For the last three days of the experiment, the bottom hive entrance was made accessible again. Regardless of entrance position, the dance floor was seen to be established adjacent to the hive entrance.

Tumbling take-offs on floor exercise apparatuses of varying stiffness properties may contribute to apparatus behaviors that lead to increased injury exposure. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the kinematics, kinetics, and timing performance characteristics of a springfloor and a spring-floor with an added Air FloorTM. Five male international gymnasts performed a forward handspring to forward somersault and a round off, flic flac, backward somersault on a standard spring-floor and a spring-floor with an Air FloorTM. Performances were measured via high-speed video kinematics (lower extremity joint angles and positions), electromyography of eight lower extremity muscles, mean peak forces on the feet, and timing. Comparisons of spring-floor types, lower extremity joint angles, lower extremity muscle activations, foot forces, and selected durations were determined. The spring floor with Air FloorTM resulted in longer take-off contact durations than spring-floor alone. Dynamic knee angles may indicate an unexpected and potentially injurious motion of the triceps surae musculotendinous structures. This pilot and hypothesis generating study has suggested future research examining dynamic knee position and angle changes, the role of spring-floor vibration and stiffness in take-offs, and take-off muscle activation alignment with the stiffness of the spring-floor. Pragmatically, there appears to be a convergence of evidence indicating that a slower frequency response of the spring floor may assist tumbling performance and reduce stress and strain in the lower extremity.

Prior research on maternal postpartum care, the transition to motherhood, pelvic floor dysfunction, and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) has revealed that postpartum women are often denied the basic information, instruction, and preventive strategies necessary for optimal postbirth rehabilitation and psychological well-being. Employing a dual framework of self-determination theory and personal growth initiative (PGI) theory, this quantitative study utilized a cross-sectional design to investigate if autonomy, competence, and relatedness satisfaction predicted PGI in postpartum women. Differences in autonomy, competence, relatedness, and PGI between PFMT practicing and nonpracticing postpartum women were also examined. A web-based survey method was employed to collect data from 229 postpartum women, which consisted of 121 women not practicing PFMT and 108 women practicing PFMT. The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale measured autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The PGI Scale-II measured PGI. Standard multiple regression and 4 independent-samples t tests were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that autonomy, competence, and relatedness predicted PGI. There were no significant mean differences between PFMT practicing and nonpracticing women. These findings have implications for positive social change such that the medical community and policy makers can utilize the fulfillment of postpartum women's needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness to improve women's odds for optimal adjustment and adaptation to life after childbirth.