Can quality of life be improved by pelvic floor muscle training in women with urinary incontinence after ischemic stroke? A randomised, controlled and blinded study

Abstract

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.

Pelvic floor muscle training is effective in women with urinary incontinence after stroke: A randomised, controlled and blinded study

“…1). According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria 129 subjects were invited to participate in the study [Tibaek et al, 2004] (Fig. 1), but 28 (23%) subjects had UI before the stroke, 14 (11%) subjects with UI did not want to participate, 7 (5%) subjects with UI wanted to participate but did not have the resources.…”

“…The results of PFMT measured by the two quality of life questionnaires: SF-36 and IIQ have been published previously [Tibaek et al, 2004].…”

“…The present study constitutes one part of a multifaceted study about general e¡ect of PFMT where one article focusing on quality of life has been published [Tibaek et al, 2004].…”

Is there a long-lasting effect of pelvic floor muscle training in women with urinary incontinence after ischemic stroke?

“…The detailed description of randomisation and run-in procedure has been published previously [13,14].…”

Fluoxetine Improves the Quality of Life in Patients with Poststroke Emotional Disturbances

“…However, whether this agent improves the QOL of these patients, remains unknown. Although a few attempts of rehabilitation therapy have been made to improve the QOL in stroke patients [18,19,20], pharmacological interventions have rarely been attempted for this purpose. If SSRI improves poststroke emotional disturbances [17], interventions with SSRI may augment the QOL of these patients as well.…”