Physiokinesitherapy in the treatment of female stress incontinence

Abstract

The authors report the results of treatment with physiokinesitherapy (PKT) in 36 women with stress incontinence (29 with genuine-stress incontinence and 7 with urge-stress incontinence). The therapeutic programme consisted of twelve 30-minute sessions, in which biofeedback was alternated with functional electric stimulation. Clinical evaluation included a self-assessment questionnaire, a physiatric visit and a urodynamic examination at 6 and 12 months after treatment. At the end of the PKT cycle, approx. 92% of patients had improved or recovered. After 6 months, however, 53% of patients had recovered, 33% had improved and 14% were stationary. After 12 months, in the 29 patients with genuine-stress incontinence, 66% had recovered, 24% had improved and 3% were stationary, while none of the patients with urge-stress incontinence had recovered (72% improved, 28% stationary). Our study confirms that PKT is helpful in treating urinary stress incontinence in women.