Grasiéla Nascimento Correia

Individual and group pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment in female stress urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled pilot study §

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) performed during group treatment sessions (GT) and individual treatment sessions (IT) to a control group (CG) of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). HYPOTHESIS The group treatment sessions would have better effects compared to individual treatment sessions. STUDY DESIGN This randomized controlled pilot study included women aged over 18 years, who complained of urinary leakage on stress and who had not undergone physical therapy for SUI before. Forty-nine women were randomly allocated to the PFMT in group treatment session (GT) (n=17), PFMT in individual treatment session (IT) (n=17) and control group (CG) (n=15). The study was carried out in an outpatient physical therapy department in São Carlos, Brazil. Subjects on intervention groups were treated with the same PFMT protocol for 6 weeks, with two 1-h weekly sessions. The GT group carried out the PFMT in group treatment session and IT group in individual treatment session. The CG did not receive any treatment during the corresponding time. They were evaluated before and after treatment for primary outcome, urinary loss, and secondary outcomes, Kings Health Questionnaire, pressure perineometry, pelvic floor muscle strength by digital palpation and subjective satisfaction. Participants, evaluator and the physical therapist were not blinded. Forty-five women completed the study and were included in the analysis. The statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon test for intragroup analysis and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test for intergroup analysis (p<0.05). RESULTS In intragroup analysis, there was a significant reduction in urinary loss measured by pad test only in the IT group. For primary outcome, there was a significant difference only after treatment between GT and CG (p<0.0001; effect size -0.91; 95% confidence interval from 0.56 to 5.80) as well as between IT and CG (p<0.0001; effect size -0.90; 95% confidence interval from 0.54 to 5.84). There were differences after treatment in GT and IT groups for secondary outcomes: perineometry, muscle strength and in the domains of the quality of life questionnaire. For the CG group, there were not significant differences in any variables. In intergroup analysis for all variables, there were no differences between GT and IT groups. The two treated groups had similar subjective satisfaction (86%). There were no complaints of adverse effects due to treatment from either group. CONCLUSION The results indicated similar improvement in clinical variables and in satisfaction with the treatment between IT and GT.

Long-Term Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training With Vaginal Cone in Post-Menopausal Women With Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The findings are limited about the long‐term effects of treatment with vaginal cones in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The aim of this study was to investigate the long‐term effects of vaginal cones and pelvic floor muscle training in post‐menopausal women with SUI.

Vaginal cone for postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence: randomized, controlled trial

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the effect of vaginal cones and pelvic floor muscle training (PFTM) in postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence. Methods This randomized, controlled study included postmenopausal women, who complained of stress urinary incontinence. Forty-five women were allocated to three groups: a group given therapy with vaginal cones (n = 15), a group receiving therapy with PFTM (n = 15), and the control group (n = 15). Subjects in the intervention groups were treated for 6 weeks with twice-weekly sessions of 40 min. Women in the vaginal cone group carried out the pelvic floor muscle strengthening with vaginal cones. The control group did not receive any treatment during the corresponding time. They were evaluated before, at the end of treatment and 6 weeks after treatment completion for primary outcomes (1-h pad test for urinary loss and pelvic floor muscle pressure) and secondary outcomes (quality of life with Kings Health Questionnaire, satisfaction with treatment, and continuity of training). Results For urinary leakage, there were statistical differences between the treated groups and the control group at the end of treatment and 6 weeks after treatment (all p < 0.01; effect size: vaginal cone group 20.97; PFMT group 20.96). The same behavior was shown for treatment with pelvic floor muscle pressure (all p < 0.01; effect size: vaginal cone group 22.58; PFMT group 21.68). There were no differences between the vaginal cone and PFMT groups in any of the evaluations. In outcomes for quality of life, significant differences were observed for incontinence impact and gravity domains when both treated groups were compared with the control group after treatment. Both groups reported similar satisfaction levels and the vaginal cone group demonstrated lower training continuity. Conclusion Based on this study, there were similar positive results for treatment with the vaginal cone and pelvic floor muscle training for urinary leakage, pelvic floor muscle pressure and quality of life for postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence after 6 weeks.

Effects of surface and intravaginal electrical stimulation in the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence: randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of surface electrical stimulation (SES) and to compare them with the effects of the intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). STUDY DESIGN This randomized controlled study included 48 women aged over 50 years, who complained of SUI evaluated according to two structured questions of Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and who had not previously undergone physical therapy for SUI. The calculation of the sample size estimated a sample of 45 volunteers with a significance level of 5% and statistical power of 90%. The women were randomized to: Surface Electrical Stimulation Group (SESG) (n=15), Intravaginal Electrical Stimulation Group (IVESG) (n=15) and Control Group (CG) (n=15). Subjects in the intervention groups were treated with the same parameters of electrical stimulation for 12 sessions. The SESG had four silicone electrodes fixed in the suprapubic and ischial tuberosity regions. The IVES group used an intravaginal electrode. The CG did not receive any treatment during the corresponding time. They were evaluated before and after treatment by a physical therapist who was blind to group allocation. The primary outcomes were urinary leakage, pressure and strength of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction. The secondary outcome was quality of life (QOL) evaluated by KHQ. Forty-five women completed the study and were included in the analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test for intragroup analysis and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests for intergroup analysis (p<0.05). RESULTS There was significant improvement in urinary loss and pressure of contraction in the SESG and IVESG. PFM strength increased only in the IVESG. Intergroup analysis found differences after the treatment in: urinary leakage between the SESG and CG (p<0.001) and the IVESG and CG (p<0.001). Regarding QOL, there was significant reduction in the incontinence impact, limitations of daily activities, physical limitation, emotion, sleep and disposition and severity domains in the SESG (all p<0.02) and IVESG (all p<0.04) after the treatments. CONCLUSION SES and IVES are important treatments to improve the SUI. Both improved the QOL, urinary leakage, and strength and pressure of PFM contraction.

Tradução e validação para a língua portuguesa de um questionário para avaliação da gravidade da incontinência urinária

PURPOSE to translate into Portuguese, culturally adapt and validate the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI) questionnaire. METHODS two Brazilian translators carried out the translation of the ISI into Portuguese and a version was generated by consensus. This version was back-translated by two other native English speaking translators. The differences between versions were resolved and the version was pre-tested in a pilot study. One week later, the ISI was reapplied to complete the retest. The final version of the ISI was applied together with the one-hour pad test to women with stress urinary incontinence. For the validation of the ISI, the reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) and the construct were evaluated. RESULTS the reliability of the instrument was tested using the Cronbach α coefficient, with a general result of 0.93, demonstrating excellent reliability and consistency of the instrument. The intraclass correlation coefficient and the standard errors of measurement were 0.96 and 0.43, respectively. The Pearson correlation revealed a strong positive correlation (r=0.72, p<0.0001) between the results of the ISI questionnaire and the one-hour pad test. CONCLUSION the culturally adapted version of the ISI translated into Brazilian Portuguese presented satisfactory reliability and survey validity and was considered to be valid for the evaluation of the severity of urinary incontinence.

Pelvic floor muscle training decreases hip adductors isometric peak torque in incontinent women: an exploratory study

INTRODUCTION: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training is the most common treatment for urinary incontinence (UI), however many women performed the contraction of PFM with associated contraction of abdominal, gluteus and hip adductors muscles. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training on isometric and isokinetic hip adductors peak torque (PT) among women suffering from urinary incontinence (UI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a longitudinal and prospective exploratory study. This study included 15 physically active women aged 45 years old and over, who presented complaints of UI. The PFM function (digital evaluation and perineometry), isometric and isokinetic hip adductors PT and one hour pad test were performed before and after treatment. The PFM training was performed in group, one hour once a week for 12 sessions. RESULTS: Significant improvement of PFM function and pressure level (p = 0.003), and significant decrease of hip adductors isometric PT and one-hour pad test, were found post-treatment. Moderate negative correlations between PFM contraction pressure and hip adductors isokinetic PT for dominant side (DS) (r = -0.62; p = 0.03) and non-dominant side (NDS) (r = -0.64; p = 0.02); and between PFM fast fibers contraction and hip adductors isometric PT for DS (r = -0.60; p = 0.03) and NDS (r = -0.59; p = 0.04) were also found. CONCLUSIONS: The PFM training decreased hip adductors PT and improved PFM functions and UI.