Pelvic floor exercises with biofeedback for stress urinary incontinence

Int Braz J Urol. 2006 Jul-Aug;32(4):462-8; discussion 469. doi: 10.1590/s1677-55382006000400015.

Abstract

Objective: Prospective study to objectively evaluate the benefits of pelvic floor strengthening exercises associated to biofeedback for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

Materials and methods: Fourteen patients diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were selected for this study. All patients underwent a pelvic floor training associated to biofeedback for 12 consecutive weeks. Urodynamic tests, pad test and bladder diary were analyzed at the beginning of the study, at the end and after 3 months. The King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) was applied before and after treatment to assess the impact in the quality of life.

Results: There was a significant reduction in the pad weight (from 14.21 g to 1 g), number of urinary leakage episodes (from 8.14 per day to 2.57 per day) and daytime frequency (from 7.93 per day to 5.85 per day). At urodynamics the authors observed a significant increase in Valsalva leak-point pressure (from 103.93 cm H2O to 139.14 cm H2O), cistometric capacity (from 249.29 mL to 336.43 mL, p = 0.0015) and bladder volume at first desire to void (from 145 mL to 215.71 mL). Those differences were kept during the first 3 months of follow up. The KHQ revealed significant differences except in the case of ''general health perception'', which covers health in general and not exclusively urinary incontinence.

Conclusion: Treatment of SUI with pelvic floor exercises associated to biofeedback caused significant changes in the parameters analyzed, with maintenance of good results 3 months after treatment.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biofeedback, Psychology*
  • Electromyography
  • Exercise Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Pelvic Floor / physiology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / psychology
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / therapy*
  • Urodynamics