title: Long-term outcomes of perineal rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is classified with a level 1 evidence and a grade A recommendation, but long term effects have not been studied thoroughly. This study aims at assessing the long-term effectiveness of perineal rehabilitation on patients with mild prolapse and pure stress urinary incontinence (IUS) symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study on 49 patients examined at the beginning of the observation and 60 months after receiving biofeedback assisted PFMT. We created two groups. Group A: 27 women with mild symptoms of prolapse and pure mild IUS; Group B: 22 symptomatic patients postsurgery. We considered as therapeutic success a 50% general reduction of the symptoms experienced by the patients in terms of reduction of leakage episodes, number of pads used, strength and endurance of the pubococcygeus muscle and initial prolapse signs/symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A (follow-up 60 months): Reduction of prolapse symptoms: cured/much improved: 65% (17 patients); worsened: 22.4% (6 patients); unchanged: 18.5% (5 patients); reduction of urinary symptoms: cured/much improved: 59.3% (16 patients); surgery: 40.7% (11 patients); group B (follow-up 60 months); cured: 55.5% (12 patients); much improved: 44% (10 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, as for the treatment of menopausal patients with symptoms of mild disorders of the urinary/genital system, excellent results were reported in women underwent rehabilitation, as a first approach or after failed TVT-O.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torella
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Schettino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tammaro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Deo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gimigliano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colacurci
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010502:Perineum; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000534:rehabilitation*