Effect of pelvic-floor muscle exercise position on continence and quality-of-life outcomes in women with stress urinary incontinence

Abstract

Background and purpose: Pelvic-floor muscle (PFM) exercises are effective in reducing stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but few studies have investigated the effect of specific exercise variables on treatment outcomes. This study explored the effect of exercise position on treatment outcomes in women with SUI.

Subjects and methods: Forty-four women were randomly assigned to exercise in the supine position only or in both supine and upright positions. Bladder diary, pad test, urodynamic test, quality-of-life (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire [IIQ]), and PFM strength outcomes were obtained at baseline and after treatment.

Results: Exercise position did not affect outcomes. After data from both groups were collapsed, statistically significant improvements with treatment were observed in bladder diary, IIQ, PFM strength, and urodynamic test results.

Discussion and conclusion: Exercise position did not differentially affect treatment outcomes. However, women in this study achieved a mean 67.9% reduction in the frequency of SUI episodes and improvements in other study outcomes.