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Pelvic floor muscle training using an extracorporeal biofeedback device for female stress urinary incontinence

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Extracorporeal biofeedback was developed to reduce patient discomfort when performing strengthening exercises. The efficacy and safety of extracorporeal biofeedback combined with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were evaluated.

Methods

One hundred and six participants with SUI were enrolled in a 12-week PFMT program using extracorporeal biofeedback intervention. A standard pad test was performed, and pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed using the Oxford scale. Measurements were taken with a perineometer at baseline and at a 12-week follow-up visit. An objective cure was defined as less than 2 g of urine leakage by the standard pad test. The long-term effects of extracorporeal biofeedback and PFMT were investigated by interviewing the participants 12 months after treatment.

Results

Seventy-one participants completed the 12-week extracorporeal biofeedback intervention. The objective cure rate was 52.1 %, and there was a significant reduction in pad weight over the time period. The incontinence visual analogue scale, the Sandvik severity index, and the incontinence quality-of-life questionnaire domains were significantly improved after treatment (p < 0.001). The strength of the PFM was significantly increased after the 12-week treatment. After PFMT, 64.3 % of 56 participants reported good treatment compliance, and 24 participants (42.9 %) had continued PFMT at home 12 months after treatment. Age and baseline pad weight were negative predictive factors for an objective cure of SUI.

Conclusions

Pelvic floor muscle training using extracorporeal biofeedback can be an effective and safe conservative treatment option for female SUI without the discomfort caused by vaginal sensors.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Healthcare Technology Research and Development Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (A084152).

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seonam Hospital, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea

    Ha Na Lee

  2. Myongji Hospital, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Goyang, South Korea

    Seo Yeon Lee

  3. Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, South Korea

    Young-Suk Lee

  4. School of Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea

    Ji-Yeon Han

  5. Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Myung-Soo Choo

  6. Department of Urology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, South Korea

    Kyu-Sung Lee

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  1. Ha Na Lee
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Correspondence to Kyu-Sung Lee.

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Lee, H.N., Lee, S.Y., Lee, YS. et al. Pelvic floor muscle training using an extracorporeal biofeedback device for female stress urinary incontinence. Int Urogynecol J 24, 831–838 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-012-1943-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-012-1943-4

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