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. 2017 Jun;6(2):74-80.
doi: 10.1007/s13670-017-0202-4. Epub 2017 May 5.

The Relationship Between Urinary Incontinence, Mobility Limitations, and Disability in Older Women

Tatiana V Sanses  1 , Bela Kudish  2 , Jack M Guralnik  3
Affiliations

The Relationship Between Urinary Incontinence, Mobility Limitations, and Disability in Older Women

Tatiana V Sanses et al. Curr Geriatr Rep. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of the review: To describe current understanding and the relationship between urinary incontinence (UI), mobility limitations, and disability in older women with pelvic floor disorders.

Recent findings: UI is a prevalent pelvic floor disorder in older women and is considered to be one of the most common geriatric problems. There is no clear classification of UI as a disease versus UI as a geriatric syndrome in the current literature. Since the disability is also prevalent in older women, an evaluation of the relationship between UI and disability, may improve ourunderstanding of UI as a disease or a geriatric syndrome. This relationship may be classified through different pathways. Some evidence suggests that mobility disabilities and UI in older women may have bidirectional pathophysiologic mechanisms through generalized muscle dysfunction.

Summary: Expanding research on the mechanisms of UI, mobility limitations, and disability in older women as well as their associations will enhance our insight into clinical, pharmacological, environmental, behavioral, and rehabilitative interventions. It will also lead to improved measures for prevention and treatment UI in older women. Thus, understanding UI, mobility limitations, and disability can have substantial implications for both clinical work and research in this area.

Keywords: disability; disease; geriatric syndrome; mobility; urinary incontinence.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual framework of bidirectional relationship and the role of pelvic floor and lower extremities muscles in the development of urinary incontinence and mobility limitations in older women.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Multifactorial unifying conceptual model of UI and disability –(Coll-Planas et al). Functional limitations in multiple domains compromise the compensatory ability resulting in both UI and disability. Used with permission from Springer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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