The effectiveness of biofeedback therapy in managing Bladder Bowel Dysfunction in children: A systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of biofeedback therapy as a non-invasive intervention to treat Bladder Bowel Dysfunction in pediatrics.

Methods: Six databases were searched between February 2016 and September 2016. Biofeedback studies for children aged 4-16 with idiopathic urinary or fecal incontinence were included. Articles were excluded on subjects' medical histories, study design, timeline of study, and lacking expert review. Quality was determined using Sackett's Levels of Evidence and the PEDro scale.

Results: Twelve articles were included in the review. Quality of evidence was moderate, as the average PEDro score of the selected articles was 5.3. The participants' ages ranged from 4-16 years old. Studies demonstrated that a multifactorial approach consisting of biofeedback therapy and behavioral modification can be successful in resolving Bladder Bowel Dysfunction.

Conclusion: Biofeedback is a beneficial treatment for children with dysfunctional voiding and functional fecal incontinence. More conclusive research needs to be completed to explore the effects of biofeedback therapy treatment to make more concrete conclusions. Healthcare professionals should consider biofeedback as an alternative approach in conjunction with traditional treatments. A multidisciplinary approach is best when treating dysfunctional voiding and functional fecal incontinence in the pediatric population.

Keywords: Biofeedback; Bladder Bowel Dysfunction; dysfunctional voiding; functional fecal incontinence; physical therapy.