Treatment of female urinary incontinence with EMG-controlled biofeedback home training

Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 1999;10(1):7-10. doi: 10.1007/pl00004015.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of pelvic floor training with EMG-controlled home biofeedback in the treatment of stress and mixed incontinence in women. Subjects were recruited from the urodynamic outpatient clinic and performed pelvic muscle training with an EMG-controlled biofeedback device for 20 minutes daily for 6 months. The number of pads used per day, the number of incontinence and urgency episodes, voiding frequency, maximum urethral closure pressure, functional urethral length and pressure/transmission ratio during stress were assessed before and after treatment. Thirty-three patients (13 with stress and 20 with mixed incontinence) completed the study. There was a significant decrease in the number of pads used per day, the number of incontinence and urgency episodes, and the voiding frequency. Twenty-eight patients (85%) reported that they were cured or improved. Urodynamic parameters did not change significantly. It was concluded that home pelvic floor training with EMG-controlled biofeedback is efficient in 85% of patients in alleviating the symptoms of genuine stress and mixed incontinence without causing side effects.

MeSH terms

  • Biofeedback, Psychology / methods*
  • Electromyography
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Exercise Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pelvic Floor / physiology*
  • Urinary Incontinence / prevention & control*
  • Urinary Incontinence / rehabilitation
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / prevention & control
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / rehabilitation
  • Urodynamics / physiology