The effect of pelvic floor exercises on urethral function in female stress urinary incontinence: an urodynamic study

Twenty four patients with grade II stress urinary incontinence were examined urodynamically before and after two months of pelvic floor exercises. On urethrocystometry positive urethral closure pressure was observed in five of the patients (21%) after the therapy. The positive closure pressure appeared only in the distal functional urethra, probably produced by reflex contraction of pelvic floor muscles at stress. Thirteen patients (54%) experienced subjective improvement while in eleven patients the stress incontinence remained unchanged. Active sphincter exercises appear useful in the primary treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Most suitable for this therapy are patients with slight or moderate urethral relaxation at stress and elderly patients with increased operative risks.