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

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-lasting effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in women with urinary incontinence after stroke measured by quality of life parameters. Twenty-four (24/24) women with urinary incontinence after stroke, who had completed a prospective, randomised controlled and single-blinded trial evaluating the effect of 12 weeks PFMT, were included in this follow-up study. The follow-up assessments were done by telephone interview 6 months after the intervention. The effect was evaluated by The Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ). Twenty-four subjects completed the study. In the treatment group, the SF-36 showed a trend to a long-lasting effect in one of the eight domains and the IIQ showed a tendency to decreased impact of UI in two sub-scales compared to the control group. Our data indicated that PFMT may have a long-lasting effect measured by quality of life parameters.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of patients with poststroke urinary incontinence

“…UI seriously affects the life qualities of patients,2 and UI costs around $11 billion US per year in home nursing in the US 3. Nearly 10,000 patients per year needed some form of therapy in Denmark 4. Even still, this situation has not received enough consideration in many countries.…”