Floor muscles contraction in women with stress urinary incontinence underwent to exercisesand electric stimulation therapy: a randomized study

Abstract

The study sought to determine the effect of perineal exercises (EP) associated with electric stimulation in women with effort-related urinary incontinence (SUI) in relation to the pelvic floor muscles contraction (PMEs). The methodology utilized was longitudinal of the experimental type. The sample was made of 71 women diagnosed with SUI and divided into three groups: electrical stimulation associated with exercise alone (GEE, n=24), exercises exclusively (GE, n=25) and control (GC, n=22). In the experimental groups were held 12 sessions, lasting 20 minutes each, with a frequency of 2 times a week. The contraction of the PFMs was measured through the functional assessment of the pelvic floor (FPA) and perineometer (PERI) pre and post intervention. The results showed improvement in PFM contraction for both GEE and GE groups if compared to the GC the average of AFA (fibers I and II) and PERI (fibers I): AFA FI (∆%=11.99; p<0.001) e AFA F II (∆%=11.60; p<0.001) for GEE; and for GE, AFA F I (∆%=4.75; p=0.021), AFA F II (∆%=2.93; p=0.002) and PERI FI (∆%=29.94; p=0.012). The proposed intervention in this study proved effective in both groups regarding the PMF contraction in women with UI. However, no differences were presented between the electrical stimulation and exercises group and the exercise group.