Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercises versus pelvic floor muscle exercises combined with biofeedback for stress urinary incontinence in postpartum: randomised clinical trial

Abstract

Background: In patients with stress urinary incontinence, most of the time during activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure their muscles surrounding the urethra cannot press together strongly and urine accidentally escapes the urethra. Vaginal delivery is one of the risk factors of this condition. To avoid it pelvic floor muscles exercises are recommended to postpartum womens. Objectives: The goal of this study is to assess effectiveness of Biofeedback combinated with Pelvic Floor Muscle exercises compared with PFM exercises alone on women in postpartum with stress urinary incontinence regarding the severity of this condition. Method : This study is a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT). In this study we will select womens aged between 18 and 35 years old, in postpartum diagnosed of stress urinary incontinence from 3 centers in Nîmes. Participants will be randomized and allocated to two groups. In both groups they will receive 4 rehabilitation sessions with a physiotherapist of 20 minutes monthly over 16 consecutive weeks and they will be asked to perform home exercises everyday. In the experimental group all exercises will be identical but they will perform them with the biofeedback “Emy”. Participants will be assessed at 3 different periods, once before intervention, once post- treatment, one day after the last session and once follow-up, 10 weeks before the last session. The assessment will consist of the One-hour pad test in order to follow the severity of the stress urinary incontinence, the PERFECT Scheme in order to follow the changements on pelvic floor muscles strength and the Incontinence Quality of Life Scale in order to follow the impact on life (I-QOL). All data will be collected in an Excel document and finally analysed by a qualified statistician researcher. Discussion: : Previous studies suggest that biofeedback can be an effective element adding to Pelvic Floor Muscles exercises used in urology rehabilitation. So, the intervention might produce better outcomes than the control group for stress urinary incontinence in women in postpartum