[Pelvic floor training for stress incontinence]

Genuine stress incontinence is a problem of considerable magnitude. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but there are conservative nonsurgical methods which facilitate the rehabilitation of the pelvic floor musculature. The aim of this study was to determine if our protocol for pelvic floor training is a realistic alternative for the patient who refuses operation. 34 women, aged 38-72 years (mean 48), entered a 3-month training program. It included 12 1-hour weekly meetings in the outpatient clinic with 2 motivated physiotherapists, and home exercises performed 4 times a day. After the training program they were to perform the exercises as needed. At the end of the 3 months of training, stress incontinence had disappeared in 10 patients (29.4%), 12 (35.7%) were improved, and the rest (35.7%) unchanged. Evaluation of 28 patients after 2 years showed no significant change in the results. In summary, pelvic floor training is good alternative treatment for selected patients with genuine stress incontinence.