Long-term results of pelvic floor training in female stress urinary incontinence.
One hundred and seventy women with genuine stress urinary incontinence participated in a pelvic floor exercise (PFE) programme (duration 4.7 +/- 0.2 months, range 1-18). Twenty-seven women awaiting surgery for genuine stress urinary incontinence constituted the control group. The women were evaluated using a provocation test, vaginal palpation and subjective assessment before and after treatment. After the PFE programme, 23% of the women considered themselves cured, 48% were improved and 29% unchanged. According to the provocation test used in this study 64% were cured or improved following PFE. The long-term results of PFE were assessed by means of a postal questionnaire 2 to 7 years after completion of the supervised training period (response rate 152/170; 89%). During this time 38 women (25%) had undergone operative treatment. Of the remaining patients, 13 (11%) reported that they were still cured, 50 (44%) continued to be improved, 35 (31%) were unchanged and 16 (14%) had deteriorated. However, the frequency of PFE training during the follow-up period was unsatisfactory, as only 15% were training several times a day. This indicates that continued guidance from a physiotherapist could improve the long-term efficacy of PFE training.
Hahn
I
I
Department of Physiotherapy, Sahlgrens Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Milsom
I
I
Fall
M
M
Ekelund
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D010173:Palpation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*