The short-term effects of physical therapy in different intensities of urodynamic stress incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the short-term effects of a physical therapy program in patients with different intensities of urodynamic stress urinary incontinence (USI).


METHODS
48 patients with USI were assigned to three groups according to the intensity of their incontinence: group I: 0-2 g (n = 17), group II (mild intensity: >2-10 g, n = 16) and group III (moderate intensity: >10 g, n = 15) as determined by the 1-hour pad test. A physical therapy program composed of Kegel exercises and interferential current was applied to all patients for duration of 5 weeks, with a total of 15 sessions. The number of pads used a day, frequency of voiding (times/day), amount of urinary leakage according to the 1-hour pad test (mg), severity of complaint (as centimeters on visual analogue scale) and pelvic floor muscle strength (cm Hg) were evaluated. Pre-treatment and post-treatment values of these data were compared in each group and among groups.


RESULTS
Analyses of the data indicated that the number of pads used a day, frequency of voiding and amount of urinary leakage decreased and pelvic floor muscle strength increased significantly in each group (p < 0.05). Cure in USI was found in 88% of subjects in group I and 18% of subjects in group II (mild intensity). None of the patients in group III (moderate intensity) showed a cure effect.


CONCLUSIONS
This physical therapy program was found to be more effective in mild and moderate intensities than severe USI.
Turkan
Akbayrak
A
Hacettepe University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey. takbayrak@yahoo.com
Inci
Yuksel
Y
Fazli
Demirturk
D
D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*