Physiotherapy is a safe and effective means of decreasing the symptoms and signs of stress incontinence. Fourteen out of 19 women became dry or improved sufficiently not to warrant wearing any protective garment over a 4-week treatment period. The use of a novel machine to measure pelvic floor squeeze did not improve the success of physiotherapy alone in this condition but may have an important role in instructing the patient on the correct use of the pelvic floor muscles.