The effects of physiotherapy for female urinary incontinence: individual compared with group treatment

Abstract

Objectives To compare, in a randomized trial, the effects of individual and group physiotherapy for urinary incontinence in women referred by their general practitioner (GP). Patients and methods The study included women of all ages (mean 47.8 years) with stress, urge or mixed incontinence; 126 received individual and 404 group treatment. Both groups undertook the same pelvic oor exercises and bladder training, and received the same information. The effects were measured soon after treatment and again 9 months later. The main outcome measures were objective changes in the severity of incontinence, frequency of urine loss and frequency of nocturnal urine loss. The trial was nationwide; 25 physiotherapists and 337 GPs participated. Results There were no signi®cant differences in effect between the groups; after individual treatment the severity of incontinence improved in 60% of the patients and the mean (95% con®dence interval, CI) frequency of urine loss decreased, by x8.7 (x6.4 to x11.1) times/week. After group therapy continence improved in 57% and the frequency of urine loss decreased, by ± 8.4 (x6.8 tox10.0) times/week. For women who had nocturnal urine loss (at baseline), the frequency decreased after individual treatment by x11.2 (4 tox26.4) and after group therapy by x14 (x9.1 to x18.9) times/month. All improvements persisted in full for up to 9 months. Conclusion Individual and group physiotherapy are equally effective for at least 9 months in improving incontinence in women. Factors should be sought that can predict the effectiveness of therapy, and thus better select those patients most likely to bene®t from therapy.

The effects of individual pelvic floor muscle training versus individual treatment with progression to group versus group training for women with stress urinary incontinence: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…19,20 Some studies concluded that providing physical therapy for urinary incontinence in a group format results in clinical results equivalent to the same treatment in the individual format. 6,7,21,22 Also, evidence shows that PFMT in a group format has clinical outcomes equivalent to an individual format in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. 8,23,24 A systematic review comparing the effectiveness of PFMT in group versus individual PFMT versus PFMT performed at home for the conservative treatment of female urinary incontinence, found through meta-analysis that there was no difference when comparing PFMT in group versus individual PFMT.…”

A Model of the Psychological Factors Conditioning Health Related Quality of Life in Urodynamic Stress Incontinence Patients After TVT

“…At the same time, the model shows a relationship between less frequent use of the task-oriented style and a higher level of HRQOL. It may seem that this dependence should be rather the reverse, since, in the opinion of many researchers (Janssen et al, 2001) coping with the symptoms of urinary incontinence requires a task-oriented approach.…”

“…on the road from work to home), using single-use sanitary pads and napkins, and keeping a log of urination (Kinn & Zaar, 1998;Fitzerald et al, 2001;Janssen et al, 2001). These techniques correspond, interestingly enough, with both a task-oriented approach and an avoidance approach (all forms of restriction, such as avoiding fluids), though this is seldom stated directly.…”

Análise dos recursos para reabilitação da musculatura do assoalho pélvico em mulheres com prolapso e incontinência urinária

“…With the individual training, the length of each session and the time of treatment are smaller. However, in the group treatment there is the reinforcement of motivation among the participants 20 (LE 3; DR B). Oliveira Camargo et al 21 compared these two treatment techniques in women with stress UI and observed that, after 12 weeks, both groups obtained significant reductions of UI and improved QOL, without significant differences 21 (LE 1; DR A).…”