New in the Literature: PFMT for Urinary Incontinence (Int Urogynecol J. 2013 Jan 11. [Epub ahead of print])
Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT)
is effective for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI), say authors of an article published in International Urogynecology Journal.
There is no apparent add-on effect of biofeedback (BF) training in short-term
follow-up, they add.
Women with SUI were randomized to
PFMT with BF (BF group, n = 23) or without BF (PFMT group, n = 23) for
12 weeks. As primary outcome measures, subjective symptoms and QOL were
assessed by the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and International
Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). A voiding
diary, 1-h pad test, and measurement of PFM strength were secondary outcome
measures. Changes in the primary and secondary outcomes were assessed before
and after 12 weeks of exercise training.
Of the 9 domains of the KHQ, the
scores of 5 significantly decreased in the PFMT group; the scores of 7
significantly decreased in the BF group. All ICIQ-SF items and the total score
significantly decreased in both groups after therapy. The number of
incontinence episodes significantly decreased in the PFMT group, and tended to
decrease in the BF group, but this was not significant. The leakage volume in
the 1-h pad test tended to decrease in both groups, but was not significant.
Maximum vaginal squeeze pressure significantly increased in both groups. There
were no significant inter-group differences in the changes in any of the
parameters assessed.