Web-Based Yoga-Pilates: A Prospective Cohort Study

There are limited data to determine the change in severity, efficacy, and mechanism of action of yoga-Pilates in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of an 8-week web-based home yoga-Pilates exercise program on SUI severity and to evaluate the potential mechanism of action through ultrasound examination of the urethral rhabdosphincter cross-sectional area.

This was a prospective cohort study of women with SUI. Participants underwent visits pre- and post-intervention, completed quality of life/severity surveys, and underwent pelvic examination and 3-dimensional transperineal ultrasonography to determine the urethral cross-sectional area. Pre- and post-intervention 24-hour voiding diaries were also collected. The intervention was an 8-week online yoga-Pilates video that tracked and prompted participation.

Sixty women completed the study; they were predominantly premenopausal (67%) and vaginally parous (65%) and had done yoga (76%) and/or Pilates (44%). Seventy-three percent performed the exercises ≥3 times per week. For the primary outcome, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form score improved from 9.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.7-10.4) to 7.1 (95% CI, 6.3-7.9) (P < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) number of incontinence episodes per 24 hours decreased from 1 (1-3) to 1 (0-1) (P < 0.001). The Brink pelvic floor strength score improved from 7.1 (95% CI, 6.6-7.7) to 7.7 (95% CI, 7.2-8.2) (P = 0.01). Eighty-three percent reported that they were "better" on Patient Global impression of Improvement. There were no significant changes in urethral measurements.

Although it did not meet the minimal clinically important difference, this 8-week web-based yoga-Pilates exercise program improved SUI symptoms and decreased the number of incontinence episodes in women with SUI.