1. Pelvic floor muscle training improves quality of life of women with urinary incontinence: a prospective study.
- Author
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Fan, Hiu Lan, Chan, Symphorosa Shing Chee, Law, Tracy Sze Man, Cheung, Rachel Yau Kar, and Chung, Tony Kwok Hung
- Subjects
URINARY incontinence treatment ,ACADEMIC medical centers ,ANALYSIS of variance ,CHI-squared test ,EXERCISE ,LONGITUDINAL method ,MUSCLE strength ,MUSCLES ,HEALTH outcome assessment ,PELVIC floor ,QUALITY of life ,STATISTICS ,T-test (Statistics) ,URODYNAMICS ,DATA analysis ,TREATMENT effectiveness ,PRE-tests & post-tests ,DATA analysis software ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Background Women suffering from urinary incontinence have impaired quality of life ( Qo L). Pelvic floor muscle training ( PFMT) has been recommended to be the first-line treatment for them. Aims This study evaluated the role of ( PFMT) in women with urinary incontinence. Materials and Methods All women suffering from urinary incontinence without pelvic organ prolapse who attended the urogynaecology unit of a university hospital from January 2009 to June 2010 were recruited. Urinary symptoms and impact on Qo L were assessed using the Chinese validated Urogenital Distress Inventory short form ( UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire short form ( IIQ-7) before and after PFMT. Urodynamic studies ( UDS) were used to differentiate the diagnoses of urinary incontinence. Results Three hundred and seventy-two women, aged 52.3 ± 10.8 years and practised PFMT for 9.9 ± 7.3 months, completed the study. Over 65% recorded improvement in both UDI-6 and IIQ-7. Stratified for urodynamic diagnosis, stress incontinence group and those who had no UDS abnormality had significant improvement in their urinary symptoms and Qo L after PFMT. UDI-6 and IIQ-7 also improved significantly after PFMT in groups where the clinical presentation was stress incontinence, overactive bladder symptoms or mixed urinary incontinence. Age was not associated with a significant difference in the response to PFMT. Conclusions Pelvic floor muscle training appears to be an effective first-line intervention for improving urinary symptoms and Qo L of women presenting with urinary incontinence. Future studies on long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are also required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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