The effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises on genuine stress incontinenceamong Korean women - Focusing on its effects on the quality of life

This study's purpose was to compare the treatment efficacy and the effects on the patients' quality of life of the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercise and the functional electrical stimulation (FES)-biofeedback method. Ninety female incontinence patients were randomly selected and evenly divided into three groups: control, intensive PFM exercise, and FES-biofeedback groups. They were treated for 6 weeks. The subjective changes in the severity of i ncontinence and discomfort in daily and social life were measured using a t ranslated version of Jackson's Bristol female urinary symptom questionnaire . Objective changes of pelvic muscle contraction force were measured by per ineometer. Pre and post-treatment maximal pelvic floor muscle contractile p ressure (PMC pressure) among the three groups showed statistically signific ant differences (p<0.001). Especially the FES-biofeedback group showed sign ificant ly increased maximal PMC pressure compared with other groups (p<0.0 01). From the questionnaire, pre and post-treatment changes in the severity of urinary incontinence and discomfort due to incontinence showed signific ant differences among the three groups (p < 0.001). The level of discomfort in daily life, social activity, physical activity, personal relations and discomfort due to urinary symptoms had largely changed and the FES-biofeedb ack group, in particular, showed a significant decrease after treatment. In conclusion. when PFM exercise and FES-biofeedback were compared in terms o f their effects on the patients' quality of life, FES-biofeedback proved to be more effective than verbal explanation or simple PFM exercise.