Physiotherapy for female stress urinary incontinence: a multicentre observational study.
BACKGROUND
No previous data are available on the effectiveness of physiotherapy management of urinary stress incontinence with relevance to the Australian health system.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate Australian ambulatory physiotherapy management of stress urinary incontinence.


METHODS
Observational multicentre clinical study of physiotherapy management of female stress urinary incontinence between February 1999 and October 2000, with 1-year follow-up. Outcome measures were a stress test and a 7-day diary of incontinent episodes (pretreatment and at every visit) and a condition-specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaire (pre- and post-treatment). Subjects were followed-up 1 year after treatment by questionnaire with a 7-day diary, QoL questionnaire, and assessment of subjective outcome, subjective cure, satisfaction and need for surgery.


RESULTS
Of the 274 consenting subjects, 208 completed an episode of physiotherapy care consisting of a median (IQ range) of five (four to six) visits. At the end of the episode, 84% were cured and 9% improved on stress testing, whilst 53% were cured and 25% improved according to the 7-day diary. Mean volume of urine loss on stress testing reduced from 2.4 (2.5) mL to 0.1(0.4) mL after treatment. There was a significant improvement in all QoL domains. Median (interquartile range) incontinent episodes per week were reduced from five (three to 11) to zero (zero to two) (P < 0.05) after treatment and to one (zero to four) at 1 year (P < 0.05). At 1 year, approximately 80% of respondents had positive outcomes on all outcome measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Physiotherapy management in Australian clinical settings is an effective treatment option for women with stress urinary incontinence.
Neumann
Patricia B
PB
Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia. cpneumann@ozemail.com.au
Grimmer
Karen A
KA
Grant
Ruth E
RE
Gill
Virginia A
VA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000628:therapy*