Pelvic floor muscle training improves quality of life of women with urinary incontinence: a prospective study

Background: Women suffering from urinary incontinence have impaired quality of life (QoL). Pelvic floor muscletraining (PFMT) has been recommended to be the first-line treatment for them.Aims: This study evaluated the role of (PFMT) in women with urinary incontinence.Materials and Methods: All women suffering from urinary incontinence without pelvic organ prolapse who attended theurogynaecology unit of a university hospital from January 2009 to June 2010 were recruited. Urinary symptoms andimpact on QoL were assessed using the Chinese validated Urogenital Distress Inventory short form (UDI-6) andIncontinence Impact Questionnaire short form (IIQ-7) before and after PFMT. Urodynamic studies (UDS) were used todifferentiate the diagnoses of urinary incontinence.Results: Three hundred and seventy-two women, aged 52.3 10.8 years and practised PFMT for 9.9 7.3 months,completed the study. Over 65% recorded improvement in both UDI-6 and IIQ-7. Stratified for urodynamic diagnosis,stress incontinence group and those who had no UDS abnormality had significant improvement in their urinary symptomsand QoL after PFMT. UDI-6 and IIQ-7 also improved significantly after PFMT in groups where the clinical presentationwas stress incontinence, overactive bladder symptoms or mixed urinary incontinence. Age was not associated with asignificant difference in the response to PFMT.Conclusions: Pelvic floor muscle training appears to be an effective first-line intervention for improving urinary symptomsand QoL of women presenting with urinary incontinence. Future studies on long-term effectiveness and cost-effectivenessare also required.Key words: Chinese women, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire short form, pelvic floor muscle training, urinaryincontinence, Urogenital Distress Inventory short form.