Biofeedback or pelvic floor muscle exercises for female genuine stress incontinence: a meta-analysis of trials identified in a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To test, by meta-analysis, the conclusion of a systematic review that biofeedback was no more effective than pelvic floor muscle exercises alone for the treatment of female genuine stress urinary incontinence.


METHODS
Data extracted from the five trials identified in the systematic review were subjected to pooled analysis of odds ratios for the outcome of 'cure'.


RESULTS
The odds ratio for biofeedback combined with pelvic floor muscle exercises, compared with pelvic floor muscle exercises alone, leading to cure was 2.1 (95% confidence interval 0.99-4.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Biofeedback may be an important adjunct to pelvic floor muscle exercises alone in the treatment of female genuine stress urinary incontinence. A quantitative statistical analysis of the studies identified leads to different conclusions from those in the systematic review.
Weatherall
M
M
Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand.
D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000534:rehabilitation*