An alternative intervention for urinary incontinence: Retraining diaphragmatic, deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscle coordinated function

Low-Value Practices for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction-Choosing Wisely Recommendations from the Brazilian Association of Physiotherapy in Women's Health: Observational Study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The Choosing Wisely campaign is an international initiative that is aimed at promoting a dialog between professionals, helping the population to choose an evidence-based, truly necessary and risk-free care. The aim of the study was to develop the Choosing Wisely Brazil list on Women's Health Physiotherapy in the area of the pelvic floor.

METHODS

A observational study was carried out between January 2022 and July 2023, proposed by the Brazilian Association of Physiotherapy in Women's Health, and developed by researchers working in the area of the pelvic floor. The development of the list consisted of six stages: a panel of experts, consensus building, national research, a review by the Choosing Wisely Brazil team, preparation of the list, and publication of the recommendations. Descriptive and content analyses were carried out in order to include evidence-based recommendations with over 80% agreement by physiotherapists in Brazil.

RESULTS

The expert panel was made up of 25 physiotherapists who submitted 63 recommendations. Seven physiotherapists/researchers carried out a critical analysis of the literature and refined the recommendations, resulting in 11 recommendations that were put to a national vote, in which 222 physiotherapists took part. After a review by the Choosing Wisely Brazil team, five recommendations with an average agreement of 88.2% agreement were chosen for publication.

CONCLUSIONS

The Choosing Wisely Brazil team in Physiotherapy in Women's Health/Pelvic Floor proposed a list of five recommendations that showed a high agreement among Brazilian physiotherapists working in the area.

The effect of trunk-stabilizing muscle training in women with stress urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

There is little evidence regarding the effect of trunk-stabilizing muscle training on the improvement of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of trunk-stabilizing muscle training on transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) and clinical urological indices, and on the quality of life (QoL) in women with SUI.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

A university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-six women with SUI, ages 20-55 years, were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 23) and control group (n = 23).

INTERVENTIONS

The experimental group performed trunk-stabilization exercises according to the Sapsford protocol, whereas the control group performed pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercises for 8 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was bladder base displacement (BBD), assessed by TAUS during PFM contraction (PFMC), Valsalva, and abdominal curl. The secondary outcome measures were PFM strength, the severity of urinary incontinence (UI), voiding diary, and QoL, assessed by the Modified Oxford Grading System, the severity index, frequency chart, and lower urinary tract symptoms-QoL questionnaire, respectively. All variables were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention.

RESULTS

The interaction of group and time was not significant for BBD during PFMC (p = .98), Valsalva (p = .28), abdominal curl (p = .34), and secondary variables (p > .05). The main effect of time was significant in both groups for BBD during PFMC, PFM strength, the severity of UI, voiding diary, and QoL (p < .001), with effect size (d) of 0.30, 0.80, 2.05, 1.07, and 1.03 in the control; and 0.49, 0.52, 1.75, 0.66, and 0.88 in the experimental group, respectively. The main effect of the group was not significant for BBD during PFMC (p = .68), Valsalva (p = .22), abdominal curl (p = .53), and secondary variables (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Trunk-stabilizing muscle training and PFM exercise are equally effective in the improvement of PFM function, UI symptoms, and QoL in women with SUI. Both methods can be used interchangeably by physical therapists.

The Role of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises in Stress Urinary Incontinence Among Females Aged 18-40 Years

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is prevalent among females across various age groups, yet societal taboos and unawareness contribute to under-reporting and hinder effective management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) compared to traditional Kegel exercises in females with stress urinary incontinence, focusing on assessing the impact of DNS on pelvic floor strength and core musculature activation to provide valuable insights into urinary continence management.

METHODOLOGY

This is a single-blinded, randomized trial with 90 females aged 18-40 years assessed perineometer readings, pelvic floor electromyography (EMG), and transverse abdominis activation via pressure biofeedback.

RESULTS

Significant improvements in pelvic floor strength and core musculature activation were observed in the DNS group compared to the Kegel exercise group. Perineometer values, EMG measurements, and pressure biofeedback unit readings demonstrated substantial enhancements post-intervention in both groups. Effect sizes, including Cohen's D and point biserial correlation coefficient, indicated medium to large effects favoring the DNS intervention.

CONCLUSION

DNS is superior to Kegel exercises for SUI management, emphasizing the importance of targeting core musculature. Future research should explore long-term outcomes and patient-reported measures for a comprehensive understanding.

Exercise Position to Improve Synergy Between the Diaphragm and Pelvic Floor Muscles in Women With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Cross Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the synergy between the diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) according to different exercise positions in women with pelvic floor dysfunction. Our secondary aim was to determine the short-term effects of single-week pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program on diaphragmatic function.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study included 64 women with pelvic floor dysfunction. The participants' diaphragm and abdominal muscle functions during voluntary PFM contraction and relaxation were assessed by surface electromyography and ultrasonography. The surface electromyography assessments were performed in supine (P1), crawling (P2) and sitting (P3) positions. A single week-PFMT was conducted on women who agreed to determine the short-term responses of the diaphragm function. The muscle functions according to exercise positions were compared with Friedman Analysis of Variance, and the short-term effects of single-week PFMT on diaphragm function was analyzed with Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test.

RESULTS

The diaphragm activity during voluntary PFM contraction was highest in P2 before and after single-week PFMT (P < .001). Positive significant correlations were found between the activities diaphragm and abdominal muscles in different exercise positions (P < .05). After single-week PFMT, diaphragm thickness increased (P = .030) in P1, but diaphragm activity did not change in all 3 exercise positions (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

The synergy between the diaphragm and PFM was greater in the crawling position in women with pelvic floor dysfunction. The abdominal muscles seemed to contribute to maintaining this synergy. Therefore, PFMT combined with diaphragmatic breathing exercises in the crawling position should be considered. In addition, single-week PFMT may positively affect diaphragm function in the short-term.

Non-Pharmacological Management of Urge Urinary Incontinence in Women between 40 and 65 Years Old: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) has been identified as a World Health Organization health priority. In particular, urge UI (UUI) refers to urine leakage associated with a sudden and compelling desire to void urine. It affects quality of life more than other kinds of UI, but it is not always treated adequately. For these reasons, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of conservative treatment practices to counteract UUI in women aged 40-65 years old.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. According to the protocol registered in PROSPERO, a systematic search was carried out in the CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science databases up to October 2022, to find primary studies meeting the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies were included. The scientific literature reported different strategies dealing with the problem of UUI, some purely physical, others physical and psycho-educational and others exclusively psychological.

CONCLUSION

Conservative treatments are useful to aid the reduction in UUI episodes in middle-aged women. However, none of them can be considered more effective than others due to the impossibility of conducting meta-analytical analyses. Further studies comparing the effectiveness of conservative treatments for UUI are needed.

Effects of hypopressive exercises on pelvic floor and abdominal muscles in adult women: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials

INTRODUCTION

Hypopressive exercises (HE) are postural and breathing exercises that activate deep muscles in the abdomen and pelvic floor. Despite this, there is still no consensus in the literature on its real effectiveness. The objective was to analyze the effects of HE on the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles in women with or without dysfunctions in these regions.

METHODS

This is a systematic review of randomized clinical trials found in the PEDro, PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS, and Embase databases. We include studies that evaluate the effects of HE (with or without other techniques) on the pelvic floor and abdominal region for 8 weeks or more, in women over 18 years old, with or without dysfunction in these regions, with the presence of a control group (active or passive).

RESULTS

HE were effective in improving strength, tone, and reducing symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions, in magnitude less than (in two studies) or equal (in one study) to the pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). When HE were performed with PFMT in the same group, no additional benefits were found. Only one study evaluated abdominal muscles activation, where HE were effective in improving postural control and activation of the transversus abdominis muscle.

CONCLUSIONS

The HE presented positive results to the evaluated parameters. However, the information is still preliminary and scarce. There are methodological divergences regarding the execution, follow-up and standardization of the method, which could affect the results. According to the existing information, HE cannot yet be reliably indicated for the treatment of the pelvic floor, despite pointing out relevant results in some studies. More randomized clinical trials and long-term studies are needed to analyze the effects of HE not only for pelvic floor, but also for other regions, such as abdominal muscles and related dysfunctions.

Comparing the Efficacy of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises and Kegel Exercises on Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Pilot Study

Background and objective Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a prevalent condition affecting women of various age groups, significantly impacting their quality of life. To address this multifaceted issue, a comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional pelvic floor exercises is needed. Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) exercises, targeting the integrated spinal stabilization system, offer a promising alternative. Thus, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of DNS exercises and Kegel exercises in managing SUI among women. Methods This single-blinded, pilot study involved 24 women aged 18-40 years with mild to moderate SUI. Participants were divided into DNS and Kegel exercise groups. Outcome measures included perineometer readings, electromyography (EMG) data, and the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6). Statistical analysis compared baseline and 12-week data within and between groups, and rank-biserial correlation coefficient (r) as a measure of effect size in our study was calculated. Results At 12 weeks, the DNS group showed significant improvement in pelvic floor muscle strength compared to Kegel exercises (p = 0.005). Both groups had significantly enhanced pelvic floor muscle strength (p < 0.05). A significant change occurred for EMG average, EMG peak, and EMG maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at 12 weeks (average p = 0.005; peak p = 0.001; MVC p = 0.009), with significant improvements in both groups (p < 0.05). For UDI-6, a significant difference emerged between the two groups at 12 weeks (p < 0.05), with significant improvements in both groups individually from baseline to 12 weeks (p < 0.05). The effect size "r" for all variables indicated a medium to large effect size, underscoring the substantial and significant impact of DNS exercises in managing SUI among women compared to Kegel exercises. Conclusion This study suggests that DNS exercises, emphasizing the coordinated activation of the diaphragm, abdominals, multifidus, and pelvic floor, may provide a more effective approach for managing SUI in women compared to traditional Kegel exercises.

Effects of pelvic floor muscle training applied with telerehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis having lower urinary track symptoms: A randomized controlled trial

In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate the effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) applied with telerehabilitation on urinary symptoms, quality of life, and subjective perception of improvement and satisfaction in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients having lower urinary tract symptoms. Patients were randomly divided into PFMT (n:21) and control (n:21) groups. The PFMT group received PFMT via telerehabilitation for 8 weeks and lifestyle advice, while the control group received only lifestyle advice. Although lifestyle advice alone was not effective, PFMT applied with telerehabilitation was an effective method in the management of lower urinary tract symptoms in MS patients. PFMT applied with telerehabilitation can be considered as an alternative method.

The effect of an abdominopelvic exercise program alone VS in addition to postural instructions on pelvic floor muscle function in climacteric women with stress urinary incontinence. A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Scarce literature exists regarding the influence of posture-based interventions for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups was to investigate whether the addition of postural instructions to a 12-week abdominopelvic exercise program is superior to an abdominopelvic exercise program alone, in terms of PFMs function and symptoms in climacteric women with SUI.

METHODS

Climacteric women aged between 40-75 years old who presented with SUI were included in this parallel study (NCT03727945). Two randomized groups performing one 40-minutes session per week for 12-weeks were compared: one performing an abdominopelvic exercise program (AEP) and a second one performing the same intervention with the addition of postural instructions (AEPPI). PFMs electromyographical (EMG) activity and strength (Oxford Grading Scale) were quantified during a maximal voluntary contraction. SUI symptoms were assessed using a 3-day bladder diary. These outcomes were collected at baseline, immediately after intervention, and 3-months after the intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 47 women were included in the study (AEP [n = 23], AEPPI [n = 24]). Between-group analysis showed significant differences for post-intervention EMG and strength values, showing higher values for the AEPPI compared to the AEP group. At 3-months follow-up, statistically significant differences were only obtained in strength, with higher values in the AEPPI group. No significant differences were obtained in terms of UI symptoms.

CONCLUSION

A 12-session abdominopelvic exercise program supplemented with postural instructions is superior to an abdominopelvic exercise program alone in terms of PFMs function in women with SUI.

Rumba Dance Combined with Breathing Training as an Exercise Intervention in the Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) refers to involuntary leakage from the urethra, synchronous with exertion/effort, sneezing or coughing, which has a negative effect on quality of life. Studies have shown that mild-to-moderate physical activities reduce the risk of SUI by multiple mechanisms. The objective of this study was to determine whether the Rumba dance combined with breathing training (RDBT) can reduce the severity of incontinence and improve the quality of life of patients with SUI. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with women who were sedentary, were postmenopausal, reported mild-to-moderate SUI on a 1-h pad test, were not already engaged in Rumba dance and did not receive estrogen replacement therapy. The patients were randomly assigned to the RDBT group (n = 13) or the control group (n = 11). The intervention included 90 min of RDBT three times per week for 16 weeks, and the vaginal resting pressure (VRP), pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and endurance, 1-h pad test, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ—UI SF), and the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I—QOL) were measured or completed at baseline and 16 weeks. None of the participants reported adverse events. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 55.75 ± 5.58 years. After 16 weeks, in the RDBT group, the urine leakage on the 1-h pad test was significantly decreased −2.91 ± 0.49 from the baseline (p = 0.000). The VRP increased from 76.00 ± 16.23 cmH2O to 95.09 ± 18.90 cmH2O (p = 0.000), the PFM endurance of class I (−3.15 ± 1.99% vs. −0.46 ± 0.97%, p = 0.000) and class II (−0.69 ± 0.95% vs. −0.23 ± 0.44%, p = 0.065) increased, and the grades of PFM strength of class I and class II were significantly enhanced (p < 0.01). Finally, the severity of self-reported incontinence (ICIQ—UI SF) significantly decreased from 6.12 ± 2.15 to 3.81 ± 1.68 (p = 0.000), and quality of life (I—QOL) improved from 75.73 ± 11.93 to 83.48 ± 7.88 (p = 0.005). Conclusion: A 16-week RDBT program can increase PFM strength and endurance to reduce the severity of incontinence symptoms and improve the quality of life in patients with SUI, demonstrating the feasibility of recruiting and retaining postmenopausal women with SUI into a RDBT therapeutic program.

Impact of Urinary Incontinence on Physical Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Incontinent Women: A Comparative Study between Urinary Incontinent and Apparently Healthy Women

Patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may be afraid to increase intra-abdominal pressure to avoid incontinence. This could lead to weak expiratory muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between respiratory muscle strength, physical function, and SUI in patients with SUI. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Physical Medicine and Functional Rehabilitation Department. Thirty-one incontinent women (IG) and twenty-nine women in a control group (CG) were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric data, respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory pressure; maximal expiratory pressure), SUI (Urogenital Distress Inventory-6; Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7; Pad test), and physical function (waist circumference; timed-up-and-go test; abdominal muscle strength) were assessed. Body fat, body mass index, body weight, and waist circumference were higher in IG than CG (p < 0.01), while postural gait and abdominal muscles were lower (p < 0.001). Respiratory muscle strength displayed moderate correlations with SUI severity, especially for maximal expiratory pressure (p < 0.01). Maximal expiratory pressure was moderately associated with physical function. Deterioration in respiratory muscle strength is a characteristic of women with SUI. In this population, pelvic floor muscle training may be prescribed to improve continence. By feeling more confident about increasing intra-abdominal pressure, women with SUI would strengthen their expiratory muscles and eventually improve their physical function.

Conservative interventions for treating urinary incontinence in women: an Overview of Cochrane systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntary loss of urine and can be caused by several different conditions. The common types of UI are stress (SUI), urgency (UUI) and mixed (MUI). A wide range of interventions can be delivered to reduce the symptoms of UI in women. Conservative interventions are generally recommended as the first line of treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To summarise Cochrane Reviews that assessed the effects of conservative interventions for treating UI in women.

METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Library to January 2021 (CDSR; 2021, Issue 1) and included any Cochrane Review that included studies with women aged 18 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of SUI, UUI or MUI, and investigating a conservative intervention aimed at improving or curing UI. We included reviews that compared a conservative intervention with 'control' (which included placebo, no treatment or usual care), another conservative intervention or another active, but non-conservative, intervention. A stakeholder group informed the selection and synthesis of evidence. Two overview authors independently applied the inclusion criteria, extracted data and judged review quality, resolving disagreements through discussion. Primary outcomes of interest were patient-reported cure or improvement and condition-specific quality of life. We judged the risk of bias in included reviews using the ROBIS tool. We judged the certainty of evidence within the reviews based on the GRADE approach. Evidence relating to SUI, UUI or all types of UI combined (AUI) were synthesised separately. The AUI group included evidence relating to participants with MUI, as well as from studies that combined women with different diagnoses (i.e. SUI, UUI and MUI) and studies in which the type of UI was unclear.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 29 relevant Cochrane Reviews. Seven focused on physical therapies; five on education, behavioural and lifestyle advice; one on mechanical devices; one on acupuncture and one on yoga. Fourteen focused on non-conservative interventions but had a comparison with a conservative intervention. No reviews synthesised evidence relating to psychological therapies. There were 112 unique trials (including 8975 women) that had primary outcome data included in at least one analysis. Stress urinary incontinence (14 reviews) Conservative intervention versus control: there was moderate or high certainty evidence that pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), PFMT plus biofeedback and cones were more beneficial than control for curing or improving UI. PFMT and intravaginal devices improved quality of life compared to control. One conservative intervention versus another conservative intervention: for cure and improvement of UI, there was moderate or high certainty evidence that: continence pessary plus PFMT was more beneficial than continence pessary alone; PFMT plus educational intervention was more beneficial than cones; more-intensive PFMT was more beneficial than less-intensive PFMT; and PFMT plus an adherence strategy was more beneficial than PFMT alone. There was no moderate or high certainty evidence for quality of life. Urgency urinary incontinence (five reviews) Conservative intervention versus control: there was moderate to high-certainty evidence demonstrating that PFMT plus feedback, PFMT plus biofeedback, electrical stimulation and bladder training were more beneficial than control for curing or improving UI. Women using electrical stimulation plus PFMT had higher quality of life than women in the control group. One conservative intervention versus another conservative intervention: for cure or improvement, there was moderate certainty evidence that electrical stimulation was more effective than laseropuncture. There was high or moderate certainty evidence that PFMT resulted in higher quality of life than electrical stimulation and electrical stimulation plus PFMT resulted in better cure or improvement and higher quality of life than PFMT alone. All types of urinary incontinence (13 reviews) Conservative intervention versus control: there was moderate to high certainty evidence of better cure or improvement with PFMT, electrical stimulation, weight loss and cones compared to control. There was moderate certainty evidence of improved quality of life with PFMT compared to control. One conservative intervention versus another conservative intervention: there was moderate or high certainty evidence of better cure or improvement for PFMT with bladder training than bladder training alone. Likewise, PFMT with more individual health professional supervision was more effective than less contact/supervision and more-intensive PFMT was more beneficial than less-intensive PFMT. There was moderate certainty evidence that PFMT plus bladder training resulted in higher quality of life than bladder training alone.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is high certainty that PFMT is more beneficial than control for all types of UI for outcomes of cure or improvement and quality of life. We are moderately certain that, if PFMT is more intense, more frequent, with individual supervision, with/without combined with behavioural interventions with/without an adherence strategy, effectiveness is improved. We are highly certain that, for cure or improvement, cones are more beneficial than control (but not PFMT) for women with SUI, electrical stimulation is beneficial for women with UUI, and weight loss results in more cure and improvement than control for women with AUI. Most evidence within the included Cochrane Reviews is of low certainty. It is important that future new and updated Cochrane Reviews develop questions that are more clinically useful, avoid multiple overlapping reviews and consult women with UI to further identify outcomes of importance.

Can Supervised Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Through Gametherapy Relieve Urinary Incontinence Symptoms in Climacteric Women? A Feasibility Study

OBJECTIVE

 To investigate the feasibility of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) through gametherapy for relieving urinary symptoms of climacteric women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence (UI).

METHODS

 Randomized clinical trial, divided into two groups: Gametherapy (G_Game) and Control (G_Control). Both groups received recommendations about unsupervised PFMT, and G_Game also received supervised PFMT through gametherapy. After 5 consecutive weeks, the feasibility was investigated considering participant adherence, urinary symptoms (evaluated by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI-SF] questionnaire), and pelvic floor function (PERFECT Scheme: power, endurance, repetition and fast). The Fisher exact, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon sign paired, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used by intention-to-treat analysis, using STATA 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) software.

RESULTS

 The present study included 20 women per group and observed a higher adherence in G_Game. In the intragroup analysis, a decrease in the ICIQ-UI-SF score was observed in both groups (14.0 to 10.0; 13.5 to 0), associated with increased endurance (2.5 to 3.5; 2.5 to 4.0) in G_Control and G_Game, respectively. Moreover, there was a concomitant increase in pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) power (2.0 to 3.0), repetition (3.0 to 5.0), and fast (10.0 to 10.0) in G_Game. In the intergroup analysis, a reduction of UI was observed (p < 0.001; r = 0.8), as well an increase in PFM power (p = 0.027, r = 0.2) and endurance (p = 0.033; r = 0.3) in G_Game.

CONCLUSION

 The feasibility of supervised PFMT through gametherapy was identified by observing participant adherence, relief of urinary symptoms, and improvement in PFM function.

The Prevalence and Association of Stress Urinary Incontinence, Core Muscle Endurance, and Low Back Pain among Married Women in Saudi Arabia: A Case-Control Study

Purpose

There may be a strong association among stress urinary incontinence (SUI), low back pain (LBP), and core muscle endurance (CME) in married women. This study is aimed at evaluating the prevalence and clinical association between SUI, CME, and LBP among married women in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

The study was based on a case-control research design, conducted among 143 women with LBP (mean age, 32 ± 7.4 years) and 160 healthy women (mean age, 31.7 ± 6.7 years). SUI, CME, and functional disability were assessed using the international consultation on the Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), prone plank test (PP), and Oswestry Disability Index for LBP-United Arab Emirates edition (ODI-UAE).

Results

The prevalence of SUI was found to be 60% in the LBP group while 20% in the control group. CME revealed a stronger negative correlation with SUI in the LBP group (r_s = −0.75) than in the control group (r_s = −0.63).

Conclusions

The prevalence of SUI was observed higher in women with LBP than healthy women. CME exhibited a stronger association with SUI than LBP among women with LBP compared to healthy women in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the role of CME in SUI development or vice versa among married women with LBP may be subjected to further research.

Comprehensive reporting of pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence: CERT-PFMT

AIM

To produce a pelvic floor muscle training variation of the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT-PFMT).

METHODS

Qualitative methods were used to explore the perspectives of physiotherapists who have postgraduate continence and pelvic floor rehabilitation qualifications on using research evidence to implement pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence. The same experienced facilitator guided the discussions with questions derived from systematic reviews and content experts. The face-to-face focus groups were audio-recorded and verbatim transcripts were thematically analysed. For each CERT item the authors collated participant quotations that identified required explanation or elaboration for the CERT-PFMT. Systematic reviews of pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence were searched by the research team for examples of good reporting.

RESULTS

Twenty- nine continence physiotherapists participated in one of seven focus groups. Participants agreed that all key elements they needed for replicating pelvic floor muscle training interventions from a research report were provided in the published CERT checklist. CERT items 2 (qualifications), 6 (motivation), 7 (progression rules), 8 (exercise description), 13 (intervention description) and 15 (starting level) required additional explanations for pelvic floor muscle training. Clinicians reported that original CERT explanations for items 1, 3-5, 8-12, 14 and 16 could be used without modification.

CONCLUSIONS

The CERT-PFMT reporting guideline has been designed with clinician input to inform how to document pelvic floor muscle training to enable replication in clinical practice. It can be used for research protocols, to construct manuscripts reporting pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence and by journal editors and reviewers.

Add-On Effect of Postural Instructions to Abdominopelvic Exercise on Urinary Symptoms and Quality of Life in Climacteric Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence. A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the add-on effect of postural instructions to an abdominopelvic exercise program on incontinence urinary symptoms (UI symptoms) and quality of life (QoL) in climacteric women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A randomized controlled trial was performed with a total of 40 climacteric women with SUI aged between 46 and 75 years old. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: a group performing an abdominopelvic exercise program (AEP) (n = 20) and a group performing abdominopelvic exercise with the addition of postural instructions (AEPPI) (n = 20). Primary outcome measures were UI symptoms, UI impact and QoL related to UI (UI-QoL), measured by 48 h Pad Test and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), which were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3 months follow-up. Secondary outcome was patient's satisfaction measured by the 100-point Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) only after the intervention. Between-groups differences were observed in terms of UI-QoL immediately after intervention. Within-groups differences were observed between baseline to 3 months follow-up and between post-intervention to 3 months follow-up in AEPPI group (p < 0.05) for UI-QoL and UI impact. UI symptoms were improved in both groups between baseline to 3-months follow-up (p < 0.05). Patient's satisfaction was higher in the AEPPI group (p < 0.05). The addition of postural instructions to an abdominopelvic exercise program improves UI impact to QoL and patients' satisfaction in women with SUI.

Effect of pelvic floor electrical stimulation on diaphragm excursion and rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing in women with stress urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) is associated with respiratory function. We investigated the effects of PFM training by pelvic floor electrical stimulation (PFES) on PFM strength, diaphragm excursion, and upper rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

METHODS

In total, 33 participants with SUI were divided into PFES and control groups. The two groups were measured pre- and post-8 weeks of training. Diaphragm excursion and upper rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing and PFM strength were measured using sonography, electromagnetic sensors, and perineometry.

RESULTS

There were significant difference of main effect between pre- and post-training and between groups in PFM strength (between groups: P = .001, between time: P < .001) and diaphragm excursion during forceful breathing (between groups: P = .015, between time: P = .026) and coughing (between groups: P = .035, between time: P = .006). There were significant differences in diaphragm excursion during tidal (P = .002) and forceful breathing (P = .005) and coughing (P < .001) between pre- and post-training in the PFES group. Elevation of the upper rib cage during tidal (P < .001) and forceful breathing (P = .001) was significantly decreased after 8 weeks of training in the PFES group. Widening in the horizontal plane in the upper rib cage during forceful breathing (P < .001) was significantly increased after 8 weeks of training in the PFES group. PFM strength (P < .001) was significantly increased after 8 weeks of training in the PFES group.

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic floor muscles training by electrical stimulation can improve diaphragm excursion and breathing patterns in women with SUI.

The Rolf Method of Structural Integration and Pelvic Floor Muscle Facilitation: Preliminary Results of a Randomized, Interventional Study

The management of pelvic floor dysfunctions might need to be based on a comprehensive neuro-musculoskeletal therapy such as The Rolf Method of Structural Integration (SI). The aim of the study was to evaluate the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) after the tenth session of SI by using surface electromyography (sEMG). This was a randomized, interventional study. Thirty-three healthy women were randomly assigned to the experimental (SI) or control group. The outcome measures included PFM bioelectrical activity, assessed using sEMG and endovaginal probes. An intervention in the SI group included 60 min of SI once a week, and teaching on how to contract and relax PFMs; in the control group, only the teaching was carried out. In the SI group, a significant difference was found between the PFM sEMG activity during “pre-baseline rest” (p < 0.014) and that during “rest after tonic contraction” (p = 0.021) in the supine position, as were significant increases in “phasic contraction” in the standing position (p = 0.014). In the intergroup comparison, higher PFM sEMG activity after the intervention “phasic contraction” (p = 0.037) and “pre-baseline rest” (p = 0.028) was observed in the SI group. The SI intervention significantly changes some functional bioelectrical activity of PFMs, providing a basis for further research on a new approach to PFM facilitation, particularly in clinical populations.

Exercise regimens other than pelvic floor muscle training cannot increase pelvic muscle strength-a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Although pelvic floor muscle training is widely recommendedin the literature as the gold standard for the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunctions, such as urinary incontinence, interest in other exercise regimens is increasing. However, it is unknown whether other exercise regimens increase pelvic floor muscle strength.

METHODS

This was a systematic review of randomized clinical trials found in PEDro, tridatabase, Cochrane and PubMed on the efficacy of nonspecific exercises, such as Pilates, the Paula method, and hypopressive exercises, in strengthening pelvic floor muscles in adults without underlying neurological disorders and with or without pelvic floor dysfunction.

RESULTS

Seven studies were analyzed, and the results demonstrated that Pilates, the Paula method, and hypopressive exercises are ineffective in increasing pelvic muscle strength unless they are performed in conjunction with pelvic floor muscle training. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) under the number CRD42019123396.

CONCLUSION

Considering the available studies, we have concluded that Pilates, the Paula method and hypopressive exercises performed alone do not increase pelvic floor muscle strength. Pelvic floor muscle training continues to be the gold standard for increasing pelvic muscle strength.

Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle and abdominal training in women with stress urinary incontinence

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training and abdominal training in women with stress urinary incontinence. The study included 64 female patients (aged 18 to 49 years) with stress urinary incontinence. Patients were randomly allocated into the pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) or pelvic floor muscle plus abdominal training (PFMT+AT) groups. Clinical data included stress test results, pelvic floor activity measurements, and Urinary Distress Inventory, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire responses. The increase in the pelvic floor muscle activity (from the 0th to the 4th week, from the 4th to the 8th week, and from the 0th to the 8th week) was significantly greater for the PFMT+AT group than for the PFMT group (p < 0.05). The negativity rate of the stress test at the 4th week was significantly higher for the PFMT+AT group (93.7%) than for the PFMT group (53.1%) (p < 0.001). Women with stress urinary incontinence benefit more from pelvic floor muscle training plus abdominal training than from pelvic floor muscle training alone in terms of increasing their pelvic floor muscle activity and quality of life, and they also experience an earlier recovery.

The effect of modified Pilates-based positions on pelvic floor electromyographic (EMG) activity; a pilot study

INTRODUCTION

The evidence regarding the effect of exercise, specifically Modified Pilates (MP), on pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) is limited. We report our pilot study using the MAPLe® device to assess the effect of MP type exercises on PFM electomyographic (EMG) activity and whether PFM contraction could be performed during specific MP exercises.

METHODS

The MAPLe® device was used to measure EMG activity of PFMs in healthy volunteers in different MP positions. Positions were divided into 'neutral', 'core' and 'plank' and EMG readings were taken at rest, during Valsalva and during active contraction.

RESULTS

Twenty volunteers were recruited. The median age was 35 (IQR 27-39.5) years. Higher EMG readings were seen in 'core' and 'plank' positions at rest. No position inhibited a conscious contraction and positions which engaged core muscles provoked an augmented contraction.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to show that when MP positions are held for short periods of time, in asymptomatic women, the changes in PFM EMG are higher. This suggests that a stronger muscle contraction can be achieved when the core is co-contracted. Higher EMG readings were seen during 'core' and 'plank' positions; despite this, further activation with a conscious PFM contraction was still achievable.

Transabdominal Ultrasound Imaging of Pelvic Floor Muscle Activity in Women With and Without Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

Transabdominal ultrasound (TAU) is an easy and noninvasive way to evaluate and retrain pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function. The purpose of this study was to compare PFM activity in women with and without urinary incontinence (UI) by measuring bladder base displacement (as a marker for PFM activity) using TAU during PFM contraction, Valsalva's maneuver, and abdominal curl.

METHODS

Sixty-three women, aged 20-55 years, volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional study: 21 were continent and 42 had UI (21 stress urinary incontinence [SUI] and 21 mixed urinary incontinence [MUI]). Mean bladder base displacement in millimeters was measured to evaluate differences between the three groups (continent, SUI, and MUI) and also between the continent and UI groups during the performance of each maneuver.

RESULTS

No significant differences were seen between the three groups in bladder base elevation during PFM contraction (P > 0.05). Descent of the bladder base during Valsalva's maneuver and abdominal curl was significantly greater in women with SUI and MUI than in women in the continent group (P < 0.05). Comparison of the continent and UI groups showed no significant differences in elevation of the bladder base during PFM contraction, while descent of the bladder base was significantly greater in women with UI than in women in the continent group during Valsalva's maneuver and abdominal curl (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

TAU indicated that bladder base descent was greater in women with SUI and MUI than those in the continent group during the performance of maneuvers that increased intra-abdominal pressure. This effect may be due to decreased PFM performance in women with urinary incontinence.

Improvement of Urinary Incontinence, Life Impact, and Depression and Anxiety With Modified Pelvic Floor Muscle Training After Radical Prostatectomy

Prostate cancer ranks second among male cancers in the United States in terms of death rate. Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) is now offered as the standard surgical procedure performed for radical prostatectomy. Urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction were common complications after RAS prostatectomy. Patients felt ill-prepared after surgery, resulting in negative impacts on their quality of life. Pelvic floor muscle exercise is prioritized for patients with mild-to-moderate incontinence. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using resistance band pelvic floor muscle exercise for patients after RAS prostatectomy. A preexperimental single-group study was conducted for this study. A total of 43 patients completed the program. Urinary incontinence scale, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were assessed at 0.5 months, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after urinary catheter removal. The results revealed that urinary incontinence, life impact, and depression and anxiety improved significantly as time went on. This study suggests that using simple and easy-to-learn resistance band pelvic floor muscle exercise program at home can benefit patients financially and reduce travel time.

Effectiveness of Hypopressive Exercises in Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Hypopressive exercises have emerged as a conservative treatment option for pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an eight-week hypopressive exercise program to those of an individualized pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training (PFMT) program, and to a combination of both immediately after treatment and at follow-up assessments at 3, 6 and 12 months later. The study was a prospective, single-centre, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Ninety-four women with PFD were assigned to PFMT (n = 32), hypopressive exercises (n = 31) or both (n = 31). All programs included the same educational component, and instruction about lifestyle interventions and the knack manoeuvre. Primary outcomes were the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Short Form (PFDI-20); the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire Short Form (PFIQ-7); PFM strength (manometry and dynamometry) and pelvic floor basal tone (dynamometry). There were no statistically significant differences between groups at baseline, nor after the intervention. Overall, women reduced their symptoms (24.41-30.5 on the PFDI-20); improved their quality of life (14.78-21.49 on the PFIQ-7), improved their PFM strength (8.61-9.32 cmH2O on manometry; 106.2-247.7 g on dynamometry), and increased their pelvic floor basal tone (1.8-22.9 g on dynamometry). These data suggest that individual PFMT, hypopressive exercises and a combination of both interventions significantly reduce PFD symptoms, enhance quality of life, and improve PFM strength and basal tone in women with PFD, both in the short and longer term.

Which pelvic floor muscle functions are associated with improved subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of surface electrical stimulation in women with stress urinary incontinence?

OBJECTIVE

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as involuntary urine loss during effort, sneezing, or coughing. We investigated which pelvic floor muscle (PFM) functions (muscle strength, power, and endurance) are associated with improvement in subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of surface electrical stimulation (SES) training. This study was performed to determine the effects of SES in the seated position on PFM functions and subjective and objective symptoms, and to identify predictors of improved subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of SES training via secondary analysis of females with SUI.

STUDY DESIGN

The study was performed between August 2018 and December 2018. Patients with SUI were randomized into an SES group (n = 17) and a control group (n = 17). Both groups were assessed pre-intervention and after 8 weeks of intervention. The outcome measures were PFM functions (strength, power, and endurance) as measured via perineometry, the score on the urogenital distress inventory-6 (UDI-6), and the ultra-short perineal pad test result.

RESULTS

Significant differences in all PFM functions, the UDI-6 score, and the pad weight were evident both between the groups (SES vs. control group) and within the groups (pre-SES vs. post-SES). On regression of factors predicting relative changes in subjective and objective symptoms, the relative change in PFM power accounted for 15 and 13 % of the variance in the UDI-6 score (P < 0.05) and pad weight (P < 0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

SES in a seated position improved both subjective and objective symptoms in females with SUI. PFM power, the UDI-6 score, and the pad weight test result should be considered when developing intervention guidelines to improve the subjective and objective symptoms of females with SUI.

Safety and Efficacy of a Non-Invasive High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field (HIFEM) Device for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence and Enhancement of Quality of Life

Background and Objectives

Urinary incontinence is a common and distressing condition which interferes with everyday life. Patients frequently experience discomfort related to urine leakage and the subsequent need to use absorbent pads. Since the continence mechanism is primarily maintained by a proper function of pelvic floor muscles (PFM), many treatment methods focused on strengthening of the PFM have been introduced in the past. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a high‐intensity focused electromagnetic technology (HIFEM) for treatment of urinary incontinence with emphasis on effects on prospective patients’ quality of life.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

The study followed an institutional review board approved protocol. A total of 75 women (55.45 ± 12.80 years, 1.85 ± 1.28 deliveries) who showed symptoms of stress, urge, or mixed urinary incontinence were enrolled. They received six HIFEM treatments (2 per week) in duration of 28 minutes. Outcomes were evaluated after the sixth treatment and at the 3‐month follow‐up. The primary outcome was to assess changes in urinary incontinence by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‐Short Form (ICIQ‐SF) and changes in the number of absorbent pads used per day. The secondary outcome was subjective evaluation of the therapy and self‐reported changes in quality of life. The statistical analysis was conducted by paired T‐test and Pearson correlation coefficient ( α = 0.05).

Results

After the sixth session, 61 out of 75 patients (81.33%) reported significant reduction of their symptoms. The average improvement of 49.93% in ICIQ‐SF score was observed after the sixth treatment, which further increased to 64.42% at the follow‐up (both P < 0.001). Individually, the highest level of improvement was reached in patients suffering from mixed urinary incontinence (69.90%). The reduction of absorbent pads averaged 43.80% after the sixth treatment and 53.68% at 3 months (both P < 0.001), while almost 70% of patients (30 out of 43) reported decreased number of used pads. At the follow‐up, a highly significant medium correlation (r = 0.53, P < 0.001) was found between the ICIQ‐SF score improvement and the reduction in pad usage. A substantial decrease in the frequency of urine leakage triggers was documented. Patients reported no pain, downtime or adverse events, and also reported additional beneficial effects of the therapy such as increased sexual desire and better urination control.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that HIFEM technology is able to safely and effectively treat a wide range of patients suffering from urinary incontinence. After six treatments, an improvement in ICIQ‐SF score and reduction in absorbent pads usage was observed. Based on subjective evaluation, these changes positively influenced quality of life. © 2019 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Clinical Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI), a common malady in women, most often is classified as stress, urgency, or mixed.

PURPOSE

To compare the effectiveness of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions to improve or cure stress, urgency, or mixed UI in nonpregnant women.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Wiley), EMBASE (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), and PsycINFO (American Psychological Association) from inception through 10 August 2018.

STUDY SELECTION

84 randomized trials that evaluated 14 categories of interventions and reported categorical cure or improvement outcomes.

DATA EXTRACTION

1 researcher extracted study characteristics, results, and study-level risk of bias, with verification by another independent researcher. The research team collaborated to assess strength of evidence (SoE) across studies.

DATA SYNTHESIS

84 studies reported cure or improvement outcomes (32 in stress UI, 16 in urgency UI, 4 in mixed UI, and 32 in any or unspecified UI type). The most commonly evaluated active intervention types included behavioral therapies, anticholinergics, and neuromodulation. Network meta-analysis showed that all interventions, except hormones and periurethral bulking agents (variable SoE), were more effective than no treatment in achieving at least 1 favorable UI outcome. Among treatments used specifically for stress UI, behavioral therapy was more effective than either α-agonists or hormones in achieving cure or improvement (moderate SoE); α-agonists were more effective than hormones in achieving improvement (moderate SoE); and neuromodulation was more effective than no treatment for cure, improvement, and satisfaction (high SoE). Among treatments used specifically for urgency UI, behavioral therapy was statistically significantly more effective than anticholinergics in achieving cure or improvement (high SoE), both neuromodulation and onabotulinum toxin A (BTX) were more effective than no treatment (high SoE), and BTX may have been more effective than neuromodulation in achieving cure (low SoE).

LIMITATION

Scarce direct (head-to-head trial) evidence and population heterogeneity based on UI type, UI severity, and history of prior treatment.

CONCLUSION

Most nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions are more likely than no treatment to improve UI outcomes. Behavioral therapy, alone or in combination with other interventions, is generally more effective than pharmacologic therapies alone in treating both stress and urgency UI.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. (PROSPERO: CRD42017069903).

Evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles training in older women with urinary incontinence: a systematic review

Background:

Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as any involuntary urine loss that predominantly affects older women. There is evidence that pelvic floor muscles training (PFMT) program is effective on the treatment of pelvic floor (PF) dysfunctions and is considered to be first-line treatment. The evaluation of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) function and strength is central to validate the effectiveness of the training protocol in UI decrease. The Oxford Grading Scale and manometry are fundamental to evaluate the PFM function and strength.

Objective:

The aim of the study was to systematize the scientific evidence about the effects of PFMT in older women, assessing the PF function and strength through Oxford Grading Scale and manometry.

Methods:

The research of randomized controlled clinical trials was performed through B-on, EBSCO, PEDro, Pubmed, and SciELO data carried out from 2003 to 2016.

Results:

A total of 35 studies were identified, 26 of these were selected and fully analyzed. From the analyzed studies (n = 26), 20 were excluded for not meeting the criteria for inclusion, and only 6 studies were classified as high methodological quality, scoring an overall 4 points according the PEDro scale.

Conclusion:

The PFMT seems to be effective in treating UI in older women; the Oxford Grading Scale and manometry are considered the most reliable in the random and controlled clinical trials results. However, future investigations with high methodological quality with older women are necessary to support these results.

The Role of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in the Conservative and Surgical Management of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: Does the Strength of the Pelvic Floor Muscles Matter?

The purpose of this review is to provide an in-depth overview of the role of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training in the management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The definition, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of SUI are described. We review the anatomy of the PFM and the importance of PFM strength in maintaining urinary continence and establishing normal voiding function. A brief description of the surgical options currently available for SUI and the existing data regarding the role of perioperative PFM training for SUI are included. Critical research questions to better evaluate and assess PFM training during the perioperative period are proposed. Promising novel approaches in the treatment of SUI are also presented. This review is useful for physiatrists, urogynecologists, female urologists, and nurse practitioners who specialize in the management and treatment of women with SUI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

The impact of pelvic floor muscle training on the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence: a systematic literature review

Purpose

The purpose of this review was to assess the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in the treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) in women, with a particular focus on the impact of this form of therapy on the patients' quality of life (QoL).

Methods

The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library (articles only in English, 1990-2017). Search terms were as follows: urinary incontinence, pelvic floor muscle training, pelvic floor exercises, quality of life. Systematic review methods were based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement.

Results

The assessment of the impact of PFMT on the QoL of women with UI was conducted among 2,394 women in 24 selected studies. After the end of treatment, the majority of patients in the experimental groups noted a statistically significant improvement in QoL.

Conclusion

The results of this literature review demonstrate that PFMT is an effective treatment for UI in women. PFMT significantly improves the QoL of women with UI, which is an important determinant of their physical, mental, and social functioning.

Evaluation of pelvic floor kinematics in continent and incontinent women during running: An exploratory study

AIMS

Impact activity like running is associated with an increase in intra-abdominal pressure which needs to be sufficiently countered by pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activity to secure continence. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare PFM kinematics in continent and incontinent women during running.

METHOS

Three-dimensional position and orientation was measured with the electromagnetic tracking device trakSTAR™. One sensor was attached to the vaginal probe and a second one was secured to the subjects' skin at the height of the second sacral vertebrae. Cranial-caudal and forward-backward displacement of the vaginal probe was measured during 10 sec running on a treadmill at the speeds 7, 11, and 15 km/h. Displacement data from 100 ms before to 300 ms after heel-strike were analyzed.

RESULTS

Nineteen incontinent and twenty-seven continent women were included in this study. Before the foot touched the ground caudal translation and forward rotation of the vaginal probe was detected, whereas after heel-strike a cranial translation and backward rotation was measured. Cranial-caudal translation as well as backward-forward-rotation did not differ significantly between continent and incontinent subjects for the three speeds. Analysis of maximum displacements showed significantly increasing displacement with increasing speeds.

CONCLUSIONS

Kinematic measurements during impact activity of running demonstrated caudal translation before and cranial translation after heel-strike. The hypothesis of caudal translation through impact activity was not confirmed. Patterns seem similar between continent and incontinent subjects. Associations between the direction of displacement and muscle action of PFMs remain assumptions.

Dynamic lumbopelvic stabilization for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women: Controlled and randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare the results of the dynamic lumbopelvic stabilization (DLS) exercises with exercises for the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in women with stress urinary incontinence.

METHODS

Randomized controlled clinical trial comparing 17 women submitted to the DLS with 16 women submitted to the exercises for the PFM. The evaluated outcomes were incontinence severity, quality of life (QoL), and impression of improvement in three moments. Significance was set at 5%.

RESULTS

For socio-demographic and clinical variables, only climacteric was more prevalent in the DLS group (82% vs. 44%, P = 0.02). Soon after the intervention, there was no difference between the groups in relation to the outcomes evaluated. In the evaluation after 90 days, the DLS group presented better values for the severity of the losses (4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 5.7 ± 2.4, P = 0.006, d = 0.64), daytime frequency (4.6 ± 0.4 vs. 6.2 ± 0.6, P < 0.001, d = 2.67), and nighttime frequency (0.4 ± 0.3 vs. 1.4 ± 0.5, P < 0.001, d = 2.50), QoL and impression of improvement (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

After treatment, the DLS plus PFM exercise patients had results similar to those performing PFM exercises alone. However, the DLS plus PFM exercises were superior in the outcomes of incontinence severity, QoL, and impression of improvement in the post-90-day evaluation, showing longer lasting effect.

Nonantimuscarinic treatment for overactive bladder: a systematic review

The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of nonantimuscarinic treatments for overactive bladder. Medline, Cochrane, and other databases (inception to April 2, 2014) were used. We included any study design in which there were 2 arms and an n > 100, if at least 1 of the arms was a nonantimuscarinic therapy or any comparative trial, regardless of number, if at least 2 arms were nonantimuscarinic therapies for overactive bladder. Eleven reviewers double-screened citations and extracted eligible studies for study: population, intervention, outcome, effects on outcome categories, and quality. The body of evidence for categories of interventions were summarized and assessed for strength. Ninety-nine comparative studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions effective to improve subjective overactive bladder symptoms include exercise with heat and steam generating sheets (1 study), diaphragmatic (1 study), deep abdominal (1 study), and pelvic floor muscle training exercises (2 studies). Pelvic floor exercises are more effective in subjective and objective outcomes with biofeedback or verbal feedback. Weight loss with diet and exercise, caffeine reduction, 25-50% reduction in fluid intake, and pelvic floor muscle exercises with verbal instruction and or biofeedback were all efficacious. Botulinum toxin A improves urge incontinence episodes, urgency, frequency, quality of life, nocturia, and urodynamic testing parameters. Acupuncture improves quality of life and urodynamic testing parameters. Extracorporeal magnetic stimulation improves urodynamic parameters. Mirabegron improves daily incontinence episodes, nocturia, number of daily voids, and urine volume per void, whereas solabegron improves daily incontinence episodes. Short-term posterior tibial nerve stimulation is more efficacious than pelvic floor muscle training exercises and behavioral therapy for improving: urgency, urinary incontinence episodes, daily voids, volume per void, and overall quality of life. Sacral neuromodulation is more efficacious than antimuscarinic treatment for subjective improvement of overactive bladder and quality of life. Transvaginal electrical stimulation demonstrates subjective improvement in overactive bladder symptoms and urodynamic parameters. Multiple therapies, including physical therapy, behavioral therapy, botulinum toxin A, acupuncture, magnetic stimulation, mirabegron, posterior tibial nerve stimulation, sacral neuromodulation, and transvaginal electrical stimulation, are efficacious in the treatment of overactive bladder.

Clinical Guideline for Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

The "Japanese Clinical Guideline for Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms," published in Japan in November 2013, contains two algorithms (a primary and a specialized treatment algorithm) that are novel worldwide as they cover female lower urinary tract symptoms other than urinary incontinence. For primary treatment, necessary types of evaluation include querying the patient regarding symptoms and medical history, examining physical findings, and performing urinalysis. The types of evaluations that should be performed for select cases include evaluation with symptom/quality of life (QOL) questionnaires, urination records, residual urine measurement, urine cytology, urine culture, serum creatinine measurement, and ultrasonography. If the main symptoms are voiding/post-voiding, specialized treatment should be considered because multiple conditions may be involved. When storage difficulties are the main symptoms, the patient should be assessed using the primary algorithm. When conditions such as overactive bladder or stress incontinence are diagnosed and treatment is administered, but sufficient improvement is not achieved, the specialized algorithm should be considered. In case of specialized treatment, physiological re-evaluation, urinary tract/pelvic imaging evaluation, and urodynamic testing are conducted for conditions such as refractory overactive bladder and stress incontinence. There are two causes of voiding/post-voiding symptoms: lower urinary tract obstruction and detrusor underactivity. Lower urinary tract obstruction caused by pelvic organ prolapse may be improved by surgery.

Assessment of bioelectrical activity of synergistic muscles during pelvic floor muscles activation in postmenopausal women with and without stress urinary incontinence: a preliminary observational study

OBJECTIVE

Muscles such as adductor magnus (AM), gluteus maximus (GM), rectus abdominis (RA), and abdominal external and internal oblique muscles are considered to play an important role in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and the relationship between contraction of these muscles and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) has been established in previous studies. Synergistic muscle activation intensifies a woman's ability to contract the PFM. In some cases, even for continent women, it is not possible to fully contract their PFM without involving the synergistic muscles. The primary aim of this study was to assess the surface electromyographic activity of synergistic muscles to PFM (SPFM) during resting and functional PFM activation in postmenopausal women with and without SUI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a preliminary, prospective, cross-sectional observational study and included volunteers and patients who visited the Department and Clinic of Urology, University Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland. Forty-two patients participated in the study and were screened for eligibility criteria. Thirty participants satisfied the criteria and were categorized into two groups: women with SUI (n=16) and continent women (n=14). The bioelectrical activity of PFM and SPFM (AM, RA, GM) was recorded with a surface electromyographic instrument in a standing position during resting and functional PFM activity.

RESULTS

Bioelectrical activity of RA was significantly higher in the incontinent group than in the continent group. These results concern the RA activity during resting and functional PFM activity. The results for other muscles showed no significant difference in bioelectrical activity between groups.

CONCLUSION

In women with SUI, during the isolated activation of PFM, an increased synergistic activity of RA muscle was observed; however, this activity was not observed in asymptomatic women. This may indicate the important accessory contribution of these muscles in the mechanism of continence.

A pilot randomized trial of conventional versus advanced pelvic floor exercises to treat urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: a study protocol

Background

Radical prostatectomy is the most common and effective treatment for localized prostate cancer. Unfortunately, radical prostatectomy is associated with urinary incontinence and has a significant negative impact on quality of life. Pelvic floor exercises are the most common non-invasive management strategy for urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy; however, studies provide inconsistent findings regarding their efficacy. One potential reason for sub-optimal efficacy of these interventions is the under-utilization of regional muscles that normally co-activate with the pelvic floor, such as the transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis, and the diaphragm. Two novel approaches to improve urinary continence recovery are ‘Pfilates’ and ‘Hypopressives’ that combine traditional pelvic floor exercises with the activation of additional supportive muscles. Our study will compare an advanced pelvic floor exercise training program that includes Pfilates and Hypopressives, to a conventional pelvic floor exercises regimen for the treatment of post-radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence.

Methods/Design

This is a pilot, randomized controlled trial of advanced pelvic floor muscle training versus conventional pelvic floor exercises for men with localized prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy. Eighty-eight men who will be undergoing radical prostatectomy at hospitals in Toronto, Canada will be recruited. Eligible participants must not have undergone androgen deprivation therapy and/or radiation therapy. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive 26 weeks of the advanced or conventional pelvic floor exercise programs. Each program will be progressive and have comparable exercise volume. The primary outcomes are related to feasibility for a large, adequately powered randomized controlled trial to determine efficacy for the treatment of urinary incontinence. Feasibility will be assessed via recruitment success, participant retention, outcome capture, intervention adherence, and prevalence of adverse events. Secondary outcomes of intervention efficacy include measures of pelvic floor strength, urinary incontinence, erectile function, and quality of life. Secondary outcome measures will be collected prior to surgery (baseline), and at 2, 6, 12, 26-weeks post-operatively.

Discussion

Pfilates and Hypopressives are novel approaches to optimizing urinary function after radical prostatectomy. This trial will provide the foundation of data for future, large-scale trials to definitively describe the effect of these advanced pelvic floor exercise modalities compared to conventional pelvic floor exercise regimes for men with prostate cancer undergoing radical prostatectomy

Trial registration

Clinicalstrials.gov Identifier: NCT02233608.

The effect of pelvic floor muscle training in urinary incontinent elderly women: a sistematic review

Introduction The International Continence Society (ICS) determines that the pelvic floor muscles training (PFMT) is the first-choice treatment of urinary symptoms in women. Objective The aim of this study was to systematize randomized controlled clinical trials that address the effects of PFMT in the treatment of urinary symptoms in older women using objective outcome measures. Method Systematic review search was performed eletronic the following databases: Medline, Pubmed, Lilacs, PEDro and manual research conducted in the references of the studies. Were considered eligible women aged over 60 years who performed PFMT in isolation, without the involvement of another technique. The PFMT performed in clinic or at home, with or without the supervision of a therapist and with or without the use of biofeedback as an adjunct. Considered as outcome measures urodynamic studies, voiding diary that assesses daytime urinary frequency, nocturnal urinary frequency, urinary incontinence and exchange absorbent, and, finally, the absorbent test that quantifies loss urinary grams. The assessment of methodological quality of the studies was conducted by PEDro scale. Results Three studies were reviewed in full. Only one trial was rated high methodological quality. There was significant improvement in urinary symptoms after treatment proposed in the three selected studies. Conclusion Considering the studies available so far are weak the evidence for the use of PFMT in the treatment of urinary symptoms in elderly women.

Short-term effect of adding pelvic floor muscle training to bladder training for female urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study was to assess whether bladder training (BT) combined with high-intensity pelvic floor muscle training (BT + PFMT) results in better outcomes in the short term than BT alone on female urinary incontinence (UI).

METHODS

We randomly assigned 108 women with diagnoses of stress UI (SUI, n = 50), urgency UI (UUI, n = 16), or mixed UI (MUI, n = 42) to 6 weeks of BT + PFMT or BT alone (control group). The primary outcome measure was self-reported improvement. Secondary outcome measures were UI severity, symptom distress, quality of life (QOL), mean number of UI episodes and micturitions per day, and pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance (PFME).

RESULTS

Overall and in the SUI and MUI subgroups, significantly more patients in the BT + PFMT group reported cured and improved symptoms. Overall and in SUI patients, the BT + PFMT group also improved to significantly greater degree in UI severity, symptom distress, QOL, daily UI episodes, and PFME. The only parameter showing more improvement in patients with UUI was QOL, and UI severity in patients with MUI (p < 0.05). There were no other significant differences between the two study groups in overall and subgroup analysis (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

High-intensity PFMT combined with BT is more effective than BT alone in the short term for treating UI or SUI. It appears that the combination therapy may also lead to greater benefits for patients with UUI and MUI. Based on the results of this study, further studies with larger sample sizes (for UUI) and long-term follow-ups are warranted.

Association of urinary incontinence with impaired functional status among older people living in a long-term care setting

AIM

To examine the association between functional status and urinary incontinence.

METHODS

A total of 27 participants with urinary incontinence and 50 participants without urinary incontinence were analyzed at a long-term care setting in Pingtung County, Taiwan, in 2011. The recruitment criteria were age older than 65 years, ability to communicate with the researcher, agreement to participate in the present study and potential ability to complete at least one measurement of functional status. Urinary incontinence was defined as urine leakage at least once a week during the past 4 weeks, whereas functional status was assessed by the body composition (body mass index and waist circumference), upper body strength (grasp test), lower body strength (30-s and 5-times chair stand test), upper body flexibility (back scratch test), lower body flexibility (chair sit-and-reach test) and agility/dynamic balance (8-ft up-and-go test).

RESULTS

In univariate analyses, performances on the tests of 5-time chair stand, 30-s chair stand, 8-ft up-and-go, chair sit-and-reach, and grasp were significantly different between the participants with and without urinary incontinence (all P < 0.05). However, after multiple logistical regression adjusting sex, age and chronic illnesses, just two tests, 8-ft up-and-go and chair sit-and-reach, were independent predictors of urinary incontinence.

CONCLUSION

Poor performance on the tests of 8-ft up-and-go and chair sit-and-reach were the predominated risk factors of urinary incontinence. Further studies regarding how to improve the functional status, especially focusing on the function of the lower body, might be required in order to enhance continence care.

Does pelvic floor muscle training abolish symptoms of urinary incontinence? A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether symptoms of urinary incontinence is reduced by pelvic floor muscle training, to determine whether urinary incontinence can be totally eliminated by strengthening the pelvic floor muscle to grade 5 on the Oxford scale.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

SETTING

Outpatient urogynecology department.

SUBJECTS

One hundred thirty cases with stress and mixed urinary incontinence.

INTERVENTION

All participants were randomly allocated to the pelvic floor muscle training group or control group. A 12-week home based exercise program, prescribed individually, was performed by the pelvic floor muscle training group.

MAIN MEASURES

Urinary incontinence symptoms (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7, Urogenital Distress Inventory-6, bladder diary, stop test and pad test) were assessed, and the pelvic floor muscle strength was measured for (PERFECT testing, perineometric and ultrasound) all participants before and after 12 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

The pelvic floor muscle training group had significant improvement in their symptoms of urinary incontinence (P=0.001) and an increase in pelvic floor muscle strength (P=0.001, by the dependent t test) compared with the control group. All the symptoms of urinary incontinence were significantly decreased in the patients that had reached pelvic floor muscle strength of grade 5 and continued the pelvic floor muscle training (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that pelvic floor muscle training is effective in reducing the symptoms of stress and mixed urinary incontinence and in increasing pelvic floor muscle strength.