title: Effects of physical therapy in older women with urinary incontinence: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most common public health problems among older women. Despite conservative treatment being recommended as the first treatment option, the effects of physical therapy in older women with UI is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to systematically review the evidence about the effects of physical therapy on urinary symptoms in older women with UI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature search for studies evaluating conservative treatment for incontinent in elderly women was conducted on Pubmed/Medline, Lilacs, Scielo, ISI Web of Knowledge and PEDro. We selected clinical trials published in English and Portuguese after the year 2000. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro scale. The results were analyzed using a critical review method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six studies were reviewed in full revealing that pelvic floor muscle training was the treatment option in most studies. Five of the six selected studies were classified as having high methodological quality. There was significant improvement in urinary symptoms after treatment in five of the six selected studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that physical therapy treatment seems to be effective to decrease urinary incontinence symptoms in older women. However, the small number of studies and the use of concurrent interventions limit the conclusions on this issue.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Adriana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Driusso
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*