A randomized prospective study comparing new vaginal cone and FES-Biofeedback

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gynecology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Urinary incontinence is a common condition affecting women's quality of life.
• Various methods exist for pelvic floor rehabilitation.
• Non-surgical treatments are sought after for managing female urinary incontinence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of a novel vaginal cone with conventional Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)-Biofeedback therapy.
• To assess pelvic floor rehabilitation outcomes in women with urinary incontinence.
• To evaluate patient satisfaction and objective symptom improvement.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study involving 120 female patients with urinary incontinence requiring non-surgical treatment.
• Two groups were formed: FES-Biofeedback (BFB) group and a new vaginal cone group.
• Treatment duration was six weeks, with varying session frequencies and home-based exercises.

Main Results:

• Both the vaginal cone and FES-Biofeedback groups demonstrated objective improvements.
• 88.3% of the cone group and 91.6% of the BFB group showed improvement.
• No significant differences were found in improvement or dissatisfaction scores between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• The new vaginal cone and FES-Biofeedback therapy exhibit comparable therapeutic effects for female urinary incontinence.
• Both treatments lead to similar improvements in quality of life and objective symptoms.
• The vaginal cone presents a viable, easy-to-use alternative for at-home pelvic floor muscle exercise and non-surgical treatment.