Pelvic Floor Muscle Therapy Safe, Effective in Managing Urinary Incontinence

It has been estimated that over half of the adult women population may encounter urinary incontinence at some point in their lives. While not exactly life-threatening, this pelvic floor disorder can have a huge impact on a woman’s quality of life. It has been known to affect a woman’s physical, social, mental, sexual, financial, and emotional well-being. Adding to the woes of these women are reports of severe complications associated with the so-called innovative treatment methods such as the use of surgical mesh.

This controversy has prompted the medical world to seek alternatives in addressing this very common disorder. This search for other treatment options has once again given prominence to the value of physical therapy in treating urinary problems. Various studies have shown that rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles has improved the conditions of thousands of incontinent women. Being a safe and effective method, experts have been recommending to women pelvic floor therapy as a form of preventive measure, especially since childbirth, aging, and menopauses have been identified as risk factors of this disorder.

US Department of Health Report

In a report released by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), it declared that pelvic floor muscle exercises are effective in treating urinary incontinence without risk of side effects. This conclusion was arrived after reviewing volumes of scientific literature on this subject. In releasing the report, the agency’s director said that this development will help the women and their healthcare providers to work together to come with the best treatment option based on the patient’s own circumstances.

Study Finds 83% Improvement

In one study involving women between the ages of 65 to 95 years who were all diagnosed with urinary incontinence, it was found that 83 percent of the participants experienced significant improvements in their conditions. Those in the control group who did not undergo any form of physical therapy did not register any improvement.

This impressive outcome was achieved in just six weeks without the use of any type of medications or invasive procedures. Areas which showed great improvements were in the frequency of urination, leakage of urine associated with urge incontinence and stress incontinence, less urgency at night, and a general improvement in bladder management. Almost all women expressed an improvement in their quality of life as well as boosting their self-confidence.