The epidemiology of female urinary incontinence

URINARY INCONTINENCE AND EXERCISE: KINESIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF AN INTERVENTION PROPOSAL

ABSTRACT Introduction Research shows that symptoms of urinary incontinence are common among women who engage in physical activity. Objective To conduct a kinesiological analysis of specific exercises for the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), proposing correspondences of these postures through resistance exercises. Methods This research project is of a descriptive nature with level of evidence V. Videos and photos were taken to obtain an image for the collection of data based on the accomplishment of the specific postures. Results The kinesiological study revealed that the muscles involved in the postures of exercises targeting the prevention of urinary incontinence beyond those specific to the pelvic floor were: trunk flexors; spinal erector; adductors and hip extensors. The resistance exercises corresponding to these positions in bodybuilding apparatus were the machine hack squat; sitting adductor exercises; sitting abductor exercises; the smith machine squat and the free squat or machine squat. Conclusion This study showed that it is possible to construct correspondence between exercises for the pelvic floor muscles and resistance exercises with bodybuilding equipment and free weights. A new strategy is suggested for the physical education professional, based on resistance exercises: taking a coadjuvant approach to the treatment and prevention of urinary incontinence during physical and sports exercises. Level of evidence V, Case series.

Evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles training in older women with urinary incontinence: a systematic review

Background:

Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as any involuntary urine loss that predominantly affects older women. There is evidence that pelvic floor muscles training (PFMT) program is effective on the treatment of pelvic floor (PF) dysfunctions and is considered to be first-line treatment. The evaluation of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) function and strength is central to validate the effectiveness of the training protocol in UI decrease. The Oxford Grading Scale and manometry are fundamental to evaluate the PFM function and strength.

Objective:

The aim of the study was to systematize the scientific evidence about the effects of PFMT in older women, assessing the PF function and strength through Oxford Grading Scale and manometry.

Methods:

The research of randomized controlled clinical trials was performed through B-on, EBSCO, PEDro, Pubmed, and SciELO data carried out from 2003 to 2016.

Results:

A total of 35 studies were identified, 26 of these were selected and fully analyzed. From the analyzed studies (n = 26), 20 were excluded for not meeting the criteria for inclusion, and only 6 studies were classified as high methodological quality, scoring an overall 4 points according the PEDro scale.

Conclusion:

The PFMT seems to be effective in treating UI in older women; the Oxford Grading Scale and manometry are considered the most reliable in the random and controlled clinical trials results. However, future investigations with high methodological quality with older women are necessary to support these results.

Effect of a Video-Assisted Teaching Program for Kegel's Exercises on Women's Knowledge About Urinary Incontinence

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess community-dwelling women's knowledge about urinary incontinence (UI) and the effectiveness of a Video Assisted Teaching Program for Kegel's Exercises (VATPKE) in increasing their knowledge.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 598 community-dwelling women. A pre-/posttest design was then used to assess the effectiveness of the VATPKE in improving knowledge about UI in women with self-reported UI (202) and without UI (396). Data were analyzed using independent and paired t tests.

RESULTS

Of the 598 participants, 33.8% self-reported having UI. The majority of women with UI (90%) and without UI (90%) had inadequate knowledge. The mean post-VATPKE knowledge levels of women with and without UI were higher than pre-VATPKE mean scores. Differences in knowledge levels in women with and without UI were statistically significant (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Most of the women at risk or already affected with UI have inadequate knowledge about the condition. In a resource-poor setting with limited health care human resources to provide one-on-one health education, interventions such as the VATPKE may help improve knowledge about UI among the large numbers of affected and at-risk women.

Normal reference values of strength in pelvic floor muscle of women: a descriptive and inferential study

Background

To describe the clinical, functional and quality of life characteristics in women with Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). In addition, to analyse the relationship between the variables reported by the patients and those informed by the clinicians, and the relationship between instrumented variables and the manual pelvic floor strength assessment.

Methods

Two hundred and eighteen women participated in this observational, analytical study. An interview about Urinary Incontinence and the quality of life questionnaires (EuroQoL-5D and SF-12) were developed as outcomes reported by the patients. Manual muscle testing and perineometry as outcomes informed by the clinician were assessed. Descriptive and correlation analysis were carried out.

Results

The average age of the subjects was (39.93 ± 12.27 years), (24.49 ± 3.54 BMI). The strength evaluated by manual testing of the right levator ani muscles was 7.79 ± 2.88, the strength of left levator ani muscles was 7.51 ± 2.91 and the strength assessed with the perineometer was 7.64 ± 2.55. A positive correlation was found between manual muscle testing and perineometry of the pelvic floor muscles (p < .001). No correlation was found between outcomes of quality of life reported by the patients and outcomes of functional capacity informed by the physiotherapist.

Conclusion

A stratification of the strength of pelvic floor muscles in a normal distribution of a large sample of women with SUI was done, which provided the clinic with a baseline. There is a relationship between the strength of the pelvic muscles assessed manually and that obtained by a perineometer in women with SUI. There was no relationship between these values of strength and quality of life perceived.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12905-014-0143-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Incontinência urinária em mulheres que buscam exame preventivo de câncer de colo uterino: fatores sociodemográficos e comportamentais

Este estudo transversal objetivou investigar a associação entre, de um lado, fatores sociodemográficos e comportamentais e, de outro, a presença de incontinência urinária referida em 784 mulheres que buscam exame preventivo de câncer de colo uterino na Grande Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Foram obtidos dados sociodemográficos, estado de saúde, atividade física, constipação e índice de massa corporal, sendo utilizado o International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-SF. A prevalência de incontinência urinária foi de 30,7% (16,5% perdiam urina uma vez por semana ou menos e 23,8% em pequena quantidade). Na regressão de Poisson bruta, estiveram associados à incontinência urinária os seguintes fatores: baixa escolaridade, renda por pessoa da família até um salário mínimo, etnia não caucasiana, excesso de peso corporal, pior autoavaliação do estado de saúde, constipação e idade. Após ajuste, seguindo modelo hierarquizado, permaneceram associados: escolaridade, etnia, estado de saúde e idade. A alta prevalência de incontinência urinária em mulheres que buscam exame de rastreamento do câncer de colo uterino justifica abordagens preventivas nesses espaços de atuação.

Self-reported urinary incontinence and factors associated with symptom severity in community dwelling adult women: implications for women's health promotion

Background

Urinary incontinence (UI) continues to affect millions of women worldwide and those living in resource poor settings seem to be more affected. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of UI and factors associated with UI symptom severity (UISS) among women in a selected district in India.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a sample of 598 community dwelling women in the age range of 20 to 60 years. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey of participants who were found in their homes.

Results

The prevalence of UI was 33.8% and the majority of women had negative attitudes about the condition. For instance most women were in agreement with statements such as: UI cannot be prevented or cured (98%); women with UI are cursed (97%); women are not supposed to tell anyone about the problem (90%) and others. Of the 202 women with self-reported UI, the majority reported having moderate UISS (78%) and others rated the symptoms as mild (22%). The woman’s age at first birth (p<.01) was negatively associated with UISS, while the number of pregnancies (p<.01) and weight of the largest baby ever delivered (p<.01), were positively associated with UISS. The weight of the largest baby delivered had the strongest impact on predicting UISS.

Conclusions

Many community dwelling women are suffering from UI at proportions which warrant significant public health consideration. Therefore public health programs to prevent UI or worsening of symptoms are required and should emphasize health education, because of the pervasive negative attitudes among affected and unaffected women. The predictors reported here can be used to priotize care for affected women and to encourage early uptake of health actions and behaviors that promote pelvic floor strengthening in at risk women who may be reluctant to disclose UI.

Effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin on in vitro contractions of stimulated detrusor muscle strips of female rats

AIMS

We studied the effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) on the in vitro detrusor muscle contractions in female rats.

METHODS

Two adjacent detrusor muscle strips from the bladder dome of 18 female Wistar rats (230-250 gm) were mounted in an organ bath for the recording of isometric tension. Carbachol (10(-9)-10(-3) M), alpha,beta methylene adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) (10(-9)-10(-3) M) and potassium chloride (KCl) (10(-4)-10(-3) M) were applied (n = 6 x 3 groups). Concentration-response curves, before and after the addition of hCG (100 iu/mL) or oxybutynin (10(-5) M) to either muscle strip, were compared.

RESULTS

All curves were displaced to the right by hCG in a concentration-dependent manner with significant inhibition of contractions induced by carbachol (P < 0.001) and KCl (P = 0.016) but not those induced by alpha,beta-methylene ATP (P = 0.4). Estimated order of potency of inhibition was carbachol>KCl>alpha,beta-methylene ATP. The overall inhibitory effect of hCG was significantly less than oxybutynin (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

hCG significantly inhibited in vitro detrusor contractions induced by depolarization (KCl) and cholinergic (carbachol) but not purinergic (alpha,beta-methylene ATP) stimulation in a dose-dependent manner in female rats.

Combined estrogen and ghrelin administration decreases expression of p27(kip1) and proportion of isomyosin type I in the striated urethral and anal sphincters and levator ani of old ovariectomized rats

We compared estrogen and/or ghrelin effects on pelvic floor muscles in old versus young adult ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomized Fisher 344 rats (18 and 3 months old, n = 24 x 2) received 42 daily intraperitoneal 17-beta estradiol (10 microg kg(-1)), ghrelin (2 microg kg(-1)), both, or vehicle (n = 6 x 4/group). Cytoplasmic p27(kip1) expression and isomyosin I proportion in striated urethral and anal sphincters and levator ani were measured, respectively, by Western blot analysis and gel electrophoresis with immunohistochemistry of muscle ghrelin receptors and radioimmunoassay of circulating growth hormone. In young adult rats, estrogen significantly decreased cytoplasmic p27(kip1) and isomyosin I signal intensities. In old rats, ghrelin and estrogen/ghrelin significantly decreased both intensities with greater estrogen/ghrelin effect. Ghrelin receptors were not immunostained in any muscle. Estrogen and/or ghrelin significantly increased or decreased, respectively, circulating growth hormone in old and young adult rats. Estrogen/ghrelin administration reversed pelvic floor muscle ageing changes in old ovariectomized rats through growth hormone production.