Device to promote pelvic floor muscle training for stress incontinence

• Published in: International journal of urology 2003-08, Vol.10 (8), p.416-422
• Main Authors: SUGAYA, KIMIO, OWAN, TOMOKO, HATANO, TADASHI, NISHIJIMA, SAORI, MIYAZATO, MINORU, MUKOUYAMA, HIDEKI, SHIROMA, KAZUO, SOEJIMA, KYOKO, MASAKI, ZENJIRO, OGAWA, YOSHIHIDE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; device; Equipment Design; Exercise Therapy - instrumentation; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Patient Satisfaction; Pelvic Floor - physiopathology; pelvic floor muscle exercise; Quality of Life; stress urinary incontinence; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence, Stress - therapy
• ISSN: 0919-8172; 1442-2042
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1442-2042.2003.00659.x

Aim:  Many patients with stress urinary incontinence do not have enough motivation to continue pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) by themselves. Therefore, a device was created to support PFMT, and its effect was examined. Methods:  Forty‐six women with stress urinary incontinence were assigned to a control group or a device group in order of presentation. A pamphlet on PFMT was given to control patients, while the same pamphlet plus the device and instructions on its use were given to patients in the device group. The device had a chime that was set to sound three times a day when exercise sessions were scheduled. PFMT consisted of fast and slow pelvic floor muscle contraction exercises that were performed for 2 min and followed a rhythm set by the device. Results:  After 8 weeks, 20 patients from the control group and 21 patients from the device group could be evaluated. In the control group, only the quality of life (QOL) index improved significantly. In the device group, however, the daily number of incontinence episodes, the number of pads used daily, the QOL index, and the pad weight in the pad test improved significantly. Patients in the device group said that they felt obligated to perform PFMT when the chime sounded. Forty‐eight percent of patients from the device group were satisfied with the outcome of PFMT, while only 15% were satisfied in the control group. Conclusion:  This device may be useful to support the management of stress urinary incontinence.