Feasability and effectiveness of pelvic floor telerehabilitation: A retrospective pilot study

First-line treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) is pelvic floor rehabilitation. Our objective was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of pelvic floor telerehabilitation on women's urinary symptoms.

This was a retrospective pilot study evaluating the impact of a pelvic floor telerehabilitation program on the symptoms of 48 patients referred for UI between 2022 and 2024. The patients completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of the telerehabilitation program. The questionnaires included the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), Urinary Symptom Profile (USP), Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), CONTILIFE, Wexner, and Kess. At the end of the program, the PGI-I (Patient Global Impression and Improvement) and a satisfaction questionnaire were also administered.

The mean age of the women was 52.5 years. They had received an average of 9.3 telerehabilitation sessions. The ICIQ-SF and CONTILIFE scores significantly improved after the program (13.1 vs. 5.8, P<0.005; 75.3 vs. 46.4, P<0.005, respectively), as did the USP, PFDI-20, Wexner, and Kess questionnaire scores (P<0.05). After the program, 83.4% of the patients reported feeling better/much better according to the PGI-I. All reported they would undergo the protocol again and would recommend it.

Pelvic floor telerehabilitation can significantly improve urinary and perineal symptoms as well as the quality of life of patients with UI. If these results are confirmed in larger prospectives studies, pelvic floor telerehabilitation programs could be integrated into an expanded care package, particularly in geographical areas lacking specialized professionals.