title: Characteristics of patients seeking outpatient rehabilitation for pelvic-floor dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pelvic-floor dysfunction (PFD) affects a substantial proportion of individuals, especially women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the characteristics of individuals with disorders associated with PFD who were seeking outpatient physical therapy services and (2) to identify the prevalence of specific pelvic-floor disorders in the group.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, longitudinal, cohort study of 2,452 patients (mean age=50 years, SD=16, range=18-91) being treated in 109 outpatient physical therapy clinics in 26 states (United States) for their PFD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined patient demographic variables and summarized patient self-reported responses to questions related to urinary and bowel functioning at admission prior to receiving the therapy for their PFD disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients primarily were female (92%), were under 65 years of age (39%: 18 to <45 years; 39%: 45 to <65 years; 21%: 65 years or older), and had chronic symptoms (74%). Overall, 67% of the patients reported that they had urinary problems, 27% reported bowel problems, and 39% had pelvic pain. Among those who had urinary or bowel disorders, 32% and 54% reported leakage and constipation, respectively, as their only problem. Among patients who had pelvic pain, most (56%) reported that the pain was in the abdominal area. Combinations of urinary, bowel, or pelvic-floor pain disorders occurred in 31% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because this study was a secondary analysis of data collected prospectively, the researchers were not in control of the data collection procedure. Missing data were common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data suggested most patients with PFD receiving outpatient physical therapy services were female, younger than 65 years, and had disorders lasting for more than 90 days. Combinations of urinary, bowel, or pelvic-floor pain disorders were not uncommon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Science and Technology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, PO Box 413, Enderis Hall 971, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA; Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes, Inc, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. wang52@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Ying-Chih
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Jerome E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mioduski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*