Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise plus Core Stability Exercise on Urinary Incontinence in Females

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether the combination of core stability exercises and pelvic floor muscle exercises offers greater benefits compared to pelvic floor muscle exercises alone in managing urinary incontinence among women with low back pain.

Methodology: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the department of Urology Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, Hyderabad from June 2023 to December 2023. Patients was dived into two groups. Group A receiving PFME combined with CSE, and a group B receiving only standard care for LBP. Core stability was evaluated through functional tests such as the plank endurance test and the side-bridge test. Quality of life was measured by the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QOL).

Results: After the intervention, the mean pad weight reduced significantly from baseline to 12th week, as 9.76±2.01 g to 1.81±0.51 g, respectively, in Group A, (p<0.001). Baseline to 12th week, in Group B the mean pad weight was 9.98±2.06 g to 6.21±2.09 g, respectively (p<0.001). The cured patient’s percentage was higher in Group A than Group B, 40 (80.0%) and 20 (40.0%), respectively. Severity index of incontinence was significantly reduced from baseline to 12th week of Group A, 5.25±2.79 to 0.88±0.26, (p<0.001), then in Group B as 5.36±2.52 to 2.50±1.82, (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Study findings concluded that pelvic floor muscle exercises combined with core muscle exercises are helpful in relieving low back pain in women with urinary incontinence, aiming to reduce urinary incontinence episodes and improve quality of life.