title: Short-term physical therapy treatment for female urinary incontinence: a quality of life evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urinary incontinence (UI) is a widespread health condition and in some situations conservative treatment has been recommended. The aim of this study was to compare women's quality of life (QoL) before and after short-term physical therapy treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a clinical trial involving 72 women who received an eight-session intervention based on pelvic floor electrical stimulation (PFES), pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and behavioral training. QoL was evaluated by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared the ICIQ-SF scores; the relative changes were calculated by dividing the differences by the initial score, and McNemar's χ(2) compared the questions related to the type of, possible causes of or situations related to UI (p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant reduction in the frequency (p < 0.03), amount (p < 0.04) and impact (p < 0.001) of UI on QoL. The total score decreased from 14.6 ± 4.2 to 7.2 ± 4.5 (p < 0.001). All questions regarding the type of, possible causes of or situations related to UI had significantly decreased. Also, 15 women reported the 'never leaked urine' condition (p < 0.001) after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short-term physical therapy treatment based on PFES, PFMT and behavioral modifications reduced the frequency, amount and impact of UI and therefore resulted in QoL improvement.
authors: PT, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Aracaju, Brazil.
authors: Mariana Tirolli
authors: MT
authors: Rett
authors: Paulo César
authors: PC
authors: Giraldo
authors: Ana Katherine da Silveira
authors: AK
authors: Gonçalves
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Eleutério Junior
authors: Sirlei Siani
authors: SS
authors: Morais
authors: Josimari Melo
authors: JM
authors: DeSantana
authors: Rose Luce
authors: RL
authors: Gomes do Amaral
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000473:pathology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*