PFMT had a significant effect in women with UI after stroke measured by diaries, pad tests and vaginal palpation.

LUTS are highly prevalent in stroke patients and have a major impact on daily life.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in women with urinary incontinence after ischemic stroke measured by quality of life (QoL) parameters. Three hundred thirty-nine medical records of stroke patients were searched. Twenty-six subjects were randomised to a Treatment Group or a Control Group in a single blinded, randomised study design. The intervention included 12 weeks of standardised pelvic floor muscle training. The outcome was measured by the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire and The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ). Twenty-four subjects completed the study. The SF-36 and IIQ did not show significant difference between the two groups. Despite the high prevalence of stroke with urinary incontinence, it is difficult to include these patients in such studies. The samples were too small to detect any significant differences. Development of specific instruments for QoL in stroke patients with urinary incontinence can be recommended.

The results indicate that for older hospitalized patients progressive resistance strength training as additional training may have an effect compared to standard care, but no statistically significant effects were demonstrated when measured by functional outcomes.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in men with poststroke lower urinary tract symptoms. Thirty-one poststroke men, median age 68 years, were included in this single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Thirty participants, 15 in each group, completed the study. The intervention consisted of 3 months (12 weekly sessions) of pelvic floor muscle training in groups and home exercises. The effect was evaluated by the DAN-PSS-1 (Danish Prostate Symptom Score) questionnaire, a voiding diary, and digital anal palpation of the pelvic floor muscle. The DAN-PSS-1, symptom score indicated a statistical significant improvement (p < .01) in the treatment group from pretest to posttest, but not in the control group. The DAN-PSS-1, total score improved statistically significantly in both groups from pretest to posttest (treatment group: p < .01; control group: p = .03). The median voiding frequency per 24 hours decreased from 11 at pretest to 7 (36%; p = .04) at posttest and to 8 (27%; p = .02) at follow-up in treatment group, although not statistical significantly more than the control group. The treatment group but not the control group improved statistically significantly in pelvic floor muscle function (p < .01) and strength (p < .01) from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow-up (p = .03; p < .01). Compared with the control group the pretest to posttest was significantly better in the treatment group (p = .03). The results indicate that pelvic floor muscle training has an effect for lower urinary tract symptoms, although statistical significance was only seen for pelvic floor muscle.

Preoperative PFMT produced a significant improvement in pelvic floor muscle endurance after TURP, but clinically relevant storage or voiding improvements did not occur. Pelvic floor muscle assessment tests need to be sex-specific.

The majority of the women were unable to perform correct voluntary PFM contraction and almost all had low PFM strength. The most important factor associated with a low level of PFM function was age.

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