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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Jul;43(7):535-544.
doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1733979. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Can Supervised Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Through Gametherapy Relieve Urinary Incontinence Symptoms in Climacteric Women? A Feasibility Study

Anita Bellotto Leme Nagib  1   2 , Valeria Regina Silva  1   3 , Natalia Miguel Martinho  1   2   4 , Andrea Marques  5 , Cassio Riccetto  1 , Simone Botelho  1   6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Can Supervised Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Through Gametherapy Relieve Urinary Incontinence Symptoms in Climacteric Women? A Feasibility Study

Anita Bellotto Leme Nagib et al. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2021 Jul.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) through gametherapy for relieving urinary symptoms of climacteric women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence (UI).

Methods: Randomized clinical trial, divided into two groups: Gametherapy (G_Game) and Control (G_Control). Both groups received recommendations about unsupervised PFMT, and G_Game also received supervised PFMT through gametherapy. After 5 consecutive weeks, the feasibility was investigated considering participant adherence, urinary symptoms (evaluated by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI-SF] questionnaire), and pelvic floor function (PERFECT Scheme: power, endurance, repetition and fast). The Fisher exact, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon sign paired, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used by intention-to-treat analysis, using STATA 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) software.

Results: The present study included 20 women per group and observed a higher adherence in G_Game. In the intragroup analysis, a decrease in the ICIQ-UI-SF score was observed in both groups (14.0 to 10.0; 13.5 to 0), associated with increased endurance (2.5 to 3.5; 2.5 to 4.0) in G_Control and G_Game, respectively. Moreover, there was a concomitant increase in pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) power (2.0 to 3.0), repetition (3.0 to 5.0), and fast (10.0 to 10.0) in G_Game. In the intergroup analysis, a reduction of UI was observed (p < 0.001; r = 0.8), as well an increase in PFM power (p = 0.027, r = 0.2) and endurance (p = 0.033; r = 0.3) in G_Game.

Conclusion: The feasibility of supervised PFMT through gametherapy was identified by observing participant adherence, relief of urinary symptoms, and improvement in PFM function.

Objetivo: Investigar a viabilidade do treinamento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (TMAP) por meio de gameterapia no alívio de sintomas urinários em mulheres climatéricas com incontinência urinária (IU) de esforço ou mista. MéTODOS: Ensaio clínico randomizado, dividido em dois grupos: Gameterapia (G_Game) e Controle (G_Controle). Ambos os grupos receberam recomendações sobre TMAP não supervisionado, e G_Game também recebeu TMAP supervisionado por meio de gameterapia. Após 5 semanas consecutivas, a viabilidade foi investigada considerando a aderência das participantes, sintomas urinários (avaliados pelo questionário International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI-SF]) e função do assoalho pélvico (esquema PERFECT: power, endurance, repetition, fast). Os testes exatos de Fisher, Kruskal-Wallis, sinal de Wilcoxon pareado e Mann-Whitney U foram usados pela análise de intenção de tratar, usando o software STATA 15.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, EUA).

Resultados: O presente estudo incluiu 20 mulheres por grupo e observou uma maior adesão no G_Game. Na análise intragrupo, foi observada diminuição no escore do ICIQ-UI-SF em ambos os grupos (de 14,0 para 10,0; de 13,5 para 0), associada ao aumento da resistência (de 2,5 para 3,5; de 2,5 para 4,0) em G_Control e G_Game, respectivamente. Além disso, houve um aumento concomitante no power (de 2,0 para 3,0), repetition (de 3,0 para 5,0) e fast (de 10,0 para 10,0) dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAPs) no G_Game. Na análise intergrupos, foi observada redução da IU (p < 0,001; r = 0,8), assim como do power (p = 0,027; r = 0,2) e da endurance (p = 0,033; r = 0,3) dos MAPs no G_Game. CONCLUSãO: A viabilidade do TMAP supervisionado por meio de gameterapia foi identificada pela observação da aderência das participantes, pelo alívio dos sintomas urinários e pela melhora da função dos MAPs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Supervised PFMT protocol through Gametherapy.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
CONSORT flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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