A Retrospective Study of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Combined with Biofeedback Stimulation versus Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Alone in the Treatment of Postpartum Stress Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Objective: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common postpartum complication in women. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) combined with biofeedback stimulation (BS) in the treatment of postpartum SUI.

Methods: A total of patients with postpartum SUI admitted to our hospital from January 2023 to January 2024 were enrolled in the study. Based on the treatment method, the patients were divided into the following two groups: PFMT + BS group and PFMT group. Both groups received treatment for three months. Pelvic floor muscle strength and pelvic floor ultrasound indices were evaluated at T0 (before treatment) and T2 (three months after treatment). The 1-h pad test, Incontinence Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICI-Q-SF) and Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QOL) were assessed at T0, T1 (one month after treatment) and T2. Data were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: A total of 105 patients were included in the study, with 58 patients in the PFMT + BS group and 47 patients in the PFMT group. After treatment, the PFMT + BS group demonstrated significantly better pelvic floor muscle strength and ultrasound compared to the PFMT group (p < 0.05). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant interaction effects between time and group on the 1-h pad test, ICI-Q-SF and I-QOL (p < 0.05), along with significant main effects for time and group (p < 0.001). Simple effects analysis showed no significant differences between groups at T0 (p > 0.05). However, at T1 and T2, the PFMT + BS group had significantly lower 1-h pad test and ICI-Q-SF scores (p < 0.05) and significantly higher I-QOL score (p < 0.05) compared to the PFMT group.

Conclusions: PFMT combined with BS is more effective than PFMT alone in treating postpartum SUI and thus warrants clinical implementation.

Keywords: electric stimulation; female; parturition; pelvic floor; urinary stress incontinence.