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Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence
Briefs
After menopause, women with osteoporosis are more likely to have urinary incontinence than are women with healthy bones. A study published in the February issue of Menopause found that physical therapy that includes pelvic floor muscle training dramatically reduces urine leakage. The study is believed to be the first-ever randomized controlled trial of physical therapy for urinary troubles in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or low bone mass. Canadian researchers studied 48 postmenopausal women ages 55 years and older who had incontinence and osteoporosis or low bone density. Types of incontinence included stress incontinence
Women-Only Cardiac Rehabilitation A study published online February 3 in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology suggests that women who participate in a women-only cardiac rehabilitation program after a cardiac event have significantly lower symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with those who attend mixed-sex cardiac rehabilitation. After a cardiac event, women tend to be less likely than their male counterparts to participate in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Researchers conducted the Cardiac Rehabilitation for her Heart Event Recovery (CR4HER) single-blind, randomized trial to see if such women would do better in a women-only program. They randomly assigned 169 low-risk cardiac patients to participate in mixed-sex, women-only, or home-based cardiac rehabilitation. All three cardiac rehabilitation programs produced improvements in physical activity, diet, and quality of life for women and men. However, women in the mixed-sex program had higher depressive and anxious symptoms compared with women in the women-only cardiac rehabilitation program, suggesting that women may be more comfortable and more likely to continue in a women-only program.
244
Nursing for Women’s Health
Volume 20
Issue 3
Photo © Hemera Technologies / thinkstockphotos.com
Research & Practice
Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence
(leaking with activity that puts pressure on the bladder, such as coughing, laughing, or running), urge incontinence (leaking before reaching the toilet when there is a strong urge to urinate), or a mixture of the two types. The women were randomly assigned to 12 weekly sessions of physical therapy with a trained physical therapist or to a 3-hour education session on physical activity, diet, and medications used to prevent or treat osteoporosis, one-on-one sessions with a dietitian and physical therapist, and extensive follow-up discussions with health care providers. The 12-week physical therapy intervention involved pelvic floor muscle exercise and retraining with biofeedback, as well as advice and techniques such as urge control and dietary changes. At baseline, 3 months, and 1 year, the women completed bladder diaries and incontinence and self-efficacy questionnaires, and they had pad tests that measure how much urine leaks over 24 hours. Women in the physical therapy group had a 75% reduction in urine leaks at 3 months, whereas women in the control group had no decrease in urine leaks. At 1 year, women who got physical therapy continued to have 75% fewer leak episodes compared with baseline, and women in the control group had worsened urine leakage relative to baseline.
After menopause, women with osteoporosis are more likely to have urinary incontinence than are women with healthy bones. A study published in the February issue of Menopause found that physical therapy that includes pelvic floor muscle training dramatically reduces urine leakage. The study is believed to be the first-ever randomized controlled trial of physical therapy for urinary troubles in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or low bone mass. Canadian researchers studied 48 postmenopausal women ages 55 years and older who had incontinence and osteoporosis or low bone density. Types of incontinence included stress incontinence
Women-Only Cardiac Rehabilitation A study published online February 3 in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology suggests that women who participate in a women-only cardiac rehabilitation program after a cardiac event have significantly lower symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with those who attend mixed-sex cardiac rehabilitation. After a cardiac event, women tend to be less likely than their male counterparts to participate in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Researchers conducted the Cardiac Rehabilitation for her Heart Event Recovery (CR4HER) single-blind, randomized trial to see if such women would do better in a women-only program. They randomly assigned 169 low-risk cardiac patients to participate in mixed-sex, women-only, or home-based cardiac rehabilitation. All three cardiac rehabilitation programs produced improvements in physical activity, diet, and quality of life for women and men. However, women in the mixed-sex program had higher depressive and anxious symptoms compared with women in the women-only cardiac rehabilitation program, suggesting that women may be more comfortable and more likely to continue in a women-only program.
244
Nursing for Women’s Health
Volume 20
Issue 3
Photo © Hemera Technologies / thinkstockphotos.com
Research & Practice
Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence
(leaking with activity that puts pressure on the bladder, such as coughing, laughing, or running), urge incontinence (leaking before reaching the toilet when there is a strong urge to urinate), or a mixture of the two types. The women were randomly assigned to 12 weekly sessions of physical therapy with a trained physical therapist or to a 3-hour education session on physical activity, diet, and medications used to prevent or treat osteoporosis, one-on-one sessions with a dietitian and physical therapist, and extensive follow-up discussions with health care providers. The 12-week physical therapy intervention involved pelvic floor muscle exercise and retraining with biofeedback, as well as advice and techniques such as urge control and dietary changes. At baseline, 3 months, and 1 year, the women completed bladder diaries and incontinence and self-efficacy questionnaires, and they had pad tests that measure how much urine leaks over 24 hours. Women in the physical therapy group had a 75% reduction in urine leaks at 3 months, whereas women in the control group had no decrease in urine leaks. At 1 year, women who got physical therapy continued to have 75% fewer leak episodes compared with baseline, and women in the control group had worsened urine leakage relative to baseline.