Summary Sixty women with genuine stress incontinence were consecutively assigned to one of four physiotherapy groups who were treated for 6 weeks by either (1) pelvic floor exercises (PFE) in hospital; (2) PFE and faradism; (3) PFE and interferential therapy; (4) PFE at home. Assessment before and after treatment was by 7‐day bladder charts, urethral pressure profiles and perineometry. Approximately two‐thirds of the hospital‐treated patients (groups 1, 2 and 3) experienced marked or moderate subjective improvement and at 6 months, 27% were dry or almost dry. There was little difference in outcome between groups 1, 2 and 3 but hospital‐based therapy was more effective than home treatment. Statistical analyses showed that there were significant improvements in the objective indices measured in the 45 hospital‐treated patients. Successful treatment was more likely in younger patients, in those with lesser degrees of genuine stress incontinence and those who had had no previous pelvic floor surgery.

The strength-duration curve, when used in conjunction with anorectal manometry, may have a role in the investigation of faecal incontinence.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract