Short-term efficacy of group pelvic floor training under intensive supervision versus unsupervised home training for female stress urinary incontinence: a randomized pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Current management guidelines propose pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) as first line treatment for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of group PFMT under intensive supervision to that of individual home therapy in women with SUI.


METHODS
Thirty women with clinical and urodynamic diagnosis of SUI were randomized in two equal-number groups. Following a common demonstration course, Group A women received a detailed schedule for home training, while Group B in addition attended a weekly hospital group visit. At 12 weeks both groups were assessed for changes in subjective and objective outcomes.


RESULTS
Twenty-two women, (10 Group A, 12 Group B) with a mean age of 47.3 years completed the study. Although significant (P<0.05) improvements were noted in both groups in quality of life scores, number of incontinence episodes/week, 24-hr frequency, and endurance, repetitions and fast contractions upon vaginal assessment of the PFMs, comparative analysis at the end of the study demonstrated significantly better results for women in Group B, who also improved in daily pad usage, underwear wetting, modified Oxford grading of the PFMs and hold with cough. Consequently, significantly more women in Group B reported improvement in their continence (100% vs. 20% in Group A).


CONCLUSIONS
Group PFMT under intensive supervision produced significantly better improvements in primary and secondary outcomes in the short-term compared to individual, unsupervised home application of PFMT.
Konstantinidou
Eleni
E
Gynecologic Urology Unit, Second Department of Urology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Apostolidis
Apostolos
A
Gynecologic Urology Unit, Second Department of Urology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Kondelidis
Nikolaos
N
Gynecologic Urology Unit, Second Department of Urology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Tsimtsiou
Zoi
Z
Gynecologic Urology Unit, Second Department of Urology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Hatzichristou
Dimitrios
D
Gynecologic Urology Unit, Second Department of Urology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Ioannides
Evangelos
E
Gynecologic Urology Unit, Second Department of Urology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000502:physiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology