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Dysfunctions of the pelvic floor related to mixed urinary incontinence in women are pathologies extremely limiting for patients bodily and psychosocial conditions, altering their quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of focal mechanical vibrations in mixed urinary incontinence. In this retrospective observational case-control study, 65 patients were randomized and divided into 2 groups: treatment group by focal mechanical vibrations (VISS-10 sessions) ( N  = 33) and a control group in waiting list ( N  = 32). Also, both groups received home-based postural ergonomic instructions to reinforce pelvic floor. Data were collected at T0 (baseline), T1 (end of treatment), and T2 (follow-up = after 1 month): rheological muscle parameters were assessed by MyotonPRO respect to evaluate the gluteus maximus muscle. Then, to measure the general disability of the pelvic floor and the impact of urogenital problems on daily activities the Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7) were used. Groups were matched perfectly before treatment for age (58.20 ± 4.37 vs. 58.73 ± 5.19) and BMI (26.15 ± 2.22 vs. 25.85 ± 2.11); for the two-way ANOVA analysis, a difference in gluteus variables over time and between groups except for GMDR (group p -value = 0.60) was showed. The two-way ANOVA shows statistically significant effects of treatment and time for PDFI-20 and PFIQ-7 ( p -value <0.001). An improvement in incontinence symptoms and quality of life in the PDFI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores were reported and VISS may favor muscles stiffness for exercises by improving the normalization of basal tone. Our results were encouraging and suggested the use of focal mechanical vibration as a novel tool for treating mix urinary incontinence in women to complete and help the rehabilitative therapeutic protocol., Competing Interests: No competing financial interest to declare., (© Teresa Paolucci et al. 2019; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

This study aims to verify whether an integrated rehabilitation protocol comprising neuromuscular manual therapy and focused mechanical-acoustic vibrations can significantly reduce pelvic floor dysfunctions in women affected by stress, urge, or mixed urinary incontinence. Sixty-two women were treated with a combination of neuromuscular manual therapy and mechanical-acoustic vibrations at the level of superficial pelvic floor muscle groups. The results were analyzed before the beginning and after the end of the study protocol with the myometric measuring device MyotonPRO, the Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20), and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7). Two patients withdrew from the study after the first visit. The 60 remaining patients showed significant improvements of myometric parameters, with the percentage variations ranging from +8.5% to +20.7% for the muscle logarithmic decrement, from -11.2 to -13.9% for muscle frequency, and from -4.8% to -12.3% for muscle stiffness. There has been a reduction of 56% in the perceived disability induced by urinary incontinence, measured with the PFDI-20, and 43% reduction in the impact of the problem on daily living, measured with the PFIQ-7. We conclude that a combination of neuromuscular manual therapy and mechanical-acoustic vibrations effectively reduces pelvic symptoms in patients affected by urinary incontinence, with minimal invasiveness.