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Introduction and Hypothesis <p>Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), primarily manifesting as pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI), is a prevalent condition that severely impairs women’s quality of life. While management strategies exist, outcomes are often suboptimal, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of research trends and their clinical relevance.</p> Methods <p>This study employed a mixed-methods exploratory design. First, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 23,005 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2003–2023) was conducted to map the global PFD research landscape, identify key trends, and detect thematic shifts. Second, to contextualize these findings, a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes from 350 women with moderate PFD who received standardized pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) was performed. Pre- and post-treatment pelvic floor muscle function (via surface electromyography) and anatomical support (via perineal ultrasound) were compared.</p> Results <p>Bibliometric analysis revealed a significant acceleration in publications after 2011, led by the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. Keyword analysis identified a clear thematic shift from a focus on surgical management (pre-2018) towards prevention, rehabilitation, and quality of life (post-2018), with PFMT emerging as a prominent research hotspot. The retrospective clinical analysis demonstrated that after one to two courses of PFMT, patients showed statistically significant improvements in muscle strength, endurance, and resting tone (all p &lt; 0.01). These functional gains were corroborated by ultrasound evidence of pelvic organ elevation and a reduced levator hiatus area.</p> Conclusions <p>By synergistically integrating macro-level bibliometric trends with micro-level clinical evidence, this study provides a holistic overview of the evolving PFD research landscape. The alignment of a growing academic focus on conservative management with real-world clinical outcomes from a PFMT cohort suggests a paradigm shift towards function-oriented, patient-centered care and highlights its role as a cornerstone of PFD management.</p>

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Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Research: A Bibliometric Analysis with Retrospective Clinical Validation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月26日

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  • Tianhui Niu,
  • Bing Chen,
  • Yan Tu,
  • Mengnan Yu,
  • Manhong Ai,
  • Xiaoxuan Qi,
  • Ying Zhou,
  • Jinghui Jia

摘要

Introduction and Hypothesis

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), primarily manifesting as pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI), is a prevalent condition that severely impairs women’s quality of life. While management strategies exist, outcomes are often suboptimal, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of research trends and their clinical relevance.

Methods

This study employed a mixed-methods exploratory design. First, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 23,005 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2003–2023) was conducted to map the global PFD research landscape, identify key trends, and detect thematic shifts. Second, to contextualize these findings, a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes from 350 women with moderate PFD who received standardized pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) was performed. Pre- and post-treatment pelvic floor muscle function (via surface electromyography) and anatomical support (via perineal ultrasound) were compared.

Results

Bibliometric analysis revealed a significant acceleration in publications after 2011, led by the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. Keyword analysis identified a clear thematic shift from a focus on surgical management (pre-2018) towards prevention, rehabilitation, and quality of life (post-2018), with PFMT emerging as a prominent research hotspot. The retrospective clinical analysis demonstrated that after one to two courses of PFMT, patients showed statistically significant improvements in muscle strength, endurance, and resting tone (all p < 0.01). These functional gains were corroborated by ultrasound evidence of pelvic organ elevation and a reduced levator hiatus area.

Conclusions

By synergistically integrating macro-level bibliometric trends with micro-level clinical evidence, this study provides a holistic overview of the evolving PFD research landscape. The alignment of a growing academic focus on conservative management with real-world clinical outcomes from a PFMT cohort suggests a paradigm shift towards function-oriented, patient-centered care and highlights its role as a cornerstone of PFD management.