Early 3‐month treatment with comprehensive physical therapy program restores continence in urinary incontinence patients after radical prostatectomy: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aims The objective of this study is to ascertain whether an early three‐month treatment with electrotherapy and biofeedback restores continence in urinary incontinence patients after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods Design: The study performed a randomized, controlled trial of parallel and open groups. Configuration: Secondary care, urology department of a university hospital complex. Participants: Patients sent for RP due to prostate cancer (n = 60), 47 patients finally completed the study. Interventions: The treatment group (TG) received physiotherapy consisting of electrotherapy and biofeedback, 3 days a week for 3 months, while the control group (CG) received no specific treatment. Both groups received a guide to perform pelvic floor exercises at home. The measurement instruments used were the 1‐ and 24‐hour pad tests and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short‐Form. The recording method used was a micturition (urinary) diary. Results The results of the 1‐hour pad test (PT) show statistically significant differences between groups at 3 months (P = .001) and 6 months (P = .001), in favor of those in the TG. Sixty‐four percent of patients in the TG recovered continence as against 9.1% in the CG after 3 months in the 1‐hour PT, in line with the objective of this study. Conclusions An early physiotherapy program helps RP patients with urinary incontinence recover continence after 3 months. Moreover, they lead a better quality life.

Are There Any Differences in Abdominal Activation between Women and Men during Hypopressive Exercises?

“…To the best of the authors′ knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the contraction of the abdominal muscles during HE in both sexes and considering sex differences. Up to now, the benefits of HE have been studied and described in women with pelvic floor or abdominal dysfunctions; however, the results presented in this study provide for the first time information about the activation of the abdominal muscles in men during HE, and support their use in several situations, such as urinary incontinence after prostatectomy or pelvic floor muscles′ dysfunctions, where men and women need similar treatments, but from different perspectives, according to their anatomy and also to the activation of their muscles [ 12 , 35 , 36 ].…”

“…These exercises are demonstrated to decrease intraabdominal pressure and activate the pelvic floor muscles and the abdominal wall, and thus, they are designed for the prevention and treatment of perineal dysfunctions, especially in postpartum [ 1 ]. Consequently, HE are mainly performed by women, with benefits in pelvic floor dysfunctions or urinary incontinence [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], but recently new scientific research has demonstrated that men with urinary incontinence, scoliosis, or low back pain could also be benefited from these exercises [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Other studies have shown that HE could induce changes in postural muscles, such as increases in muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, or length [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Consequently, HE are mainly performed by women, with benefits in pelvic floor dysfunctions or urinary incontinence [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], but recently new scientific research has demonstrated that men with urinary incontinence, scoliosis, or low back pain could also be benefited from these exercises [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Other studies have shown that HE could induce changes in postural muscles, such as increases in muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, or length [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. These modifications could influence the low back, but also the pelvic floor or the abdominal muscles [ 13 ], with implications in the biomechanics of balance, gait, and posture [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Physiotherapy as an Effective Method to Support the Treatment of Male Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review

“…In most of the analyzed research protocols, electrostimulation was combined with other PFM therapeutic techniques [ 16 , 27 , 30 , 33 , 40 , 48 , 52 ] and lasted between 15 [ 16 , 31 , 40 , 52 ] and 20 min [ 27 , 33 , 34 ]. Ahmed et al [ 16 ] observed that UI therapy outcomes may improve after combining ES therapy with BF [ 16 ].…”

Predictors for lower urinary tract symptoms in patients underwent radical prostatectomy: implications for postoperative nursing care

“…Numerous researches have put effort into identifying factors affecting post‐operative LUTS in patients with PC, which generally include radiation therapy, body mass index (BMI), age, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level and post‐operative physical therapy (Khoder et al, 2013 ; Matsukawa et al, 2020 ; Soto González et al, 2020 ). However, few have looked into the effect of nursing intervention, which in fact carries substantial weight for patient quality of life.…”