Urinary incontinence and prostate cancer: a progressive rehabilitation program design

Abstract

Purpose: To design and implement a rehabilitation program based on pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) to improve the urinary incontinence (UI).

Methods: This study is based on a randomized clinical trial. The sample was formed by 66 participants with prostate cancer. The intervention groups were randomized into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The variables studied are: waist perimeter, variables related to the evolution of UI, muscular strength, and quality of life (QoL). Measurements were taken in order to evaluate changes in both groups. A statistical analysis was conducted using the Student-Fisher t-test, the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test, and the chi-square test.

Findings/conclusions: After 24 weeks an improvement was identified in the EG compared with the CG, in waist perimeter (p≤.001), variables related to the UI symptom, intensity, frequency, difficulty and limitation of activity (p≤.0001). A correlation between UI and QoL was observed (p=.039).

Clinical relevance: The improvement in QoL is mediated indirectly by the improvement in the UI symptom.

Keywords: Urinary incontinence; exercise; pelvic floor muscle training; prostate cancer; quality of life.