Efficacy Comparison between Kegel Exercises and Extracorporeal Magnetic Innervation in Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background and Objectives: To estimate the effectiveness of Kegel exercises versus extracorporeal magnetic innervation (EMI) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Materials and Methods: A parallel group, randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia. After assessing the inclusion/exclusion criteria, each eligible participant was randomized to one of the two observed groups by flipping a coin: the first group underwent treatment with Kegel exercises for 8 weeks, while the second group underwent EMI during the same time interval. The primary outcome was the effectiveness of treatment as measured by the ICIQ-UI-SF overall score, eight weeks after the commencement of treatment. Results: During the study period, 117 consecutive patients with SUI symptoms were assessed for eligibility. A total of 94 women constituted the study population, randomized into two groups: Group Kegel (N = 48) and Group EMI (N = 46). After 8 weeks of follow-up, intravaginal pressure values in the EMI group were 30.45 cmH2O vs. the Kegel group, whose values were 23.50 cmH2O (p = 0.001). After 3 months of follow-up, the difference was still observed between the groups (p = 0.001). After the end of treatment and 3 months of follow-up, the values of the ICIQ-UI SF and ICIQ-LUTSqol questionnaires in the EMI group were lower than in the Kegel group (p < 0.001). Treatment satisfaction was overall better in the EMI group than in the Kegel group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Patients treated with EMI had a lower number of incontinence episodes, a better quality of life, and higher overall satisfaction with treatment than patients who performed Kegel exercises.

The Effects of Extracorporeal Magnetic Innervation in the Treatment of Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review

“…As a result, 11 manuscripts that met the eligibility criteria were included in the analysis (Table 2). Out of the eleven studies, eight were randomized controlled trials [11][12][13][14][15][16][17], while the other three were RCTs that employed a crossover design where patients acted as their own control group [18][19][20]. All studies reported data both before and after the intervention.…”

“…While one study enrolled patients over 21 years of age, the exact mean age of the participants was not specified [13]. Among the qualified studies, four originated from Türkiye, two from Poland, and one each from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and Croatia [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. The study population ranged from 13 to 151 patients.…”

Evaluation of Possible Side Effects in the Treatment of Urinary Incontinence with Magnetic Stimulation

“…They concluded that patients treated with MS had a lower number of incontinence episodes, a better quality of life and higher overall satisfaction with treatment than patients who performed Kegel exercises. No side effects were reported in both groups [ 36 ].…”

The effect of duloxetine on stress urinary incontinence

“…The investigation extends its focus to encompass the impact on quality of life and the potential for associated side effects, shedding light on the role of nonsurgical interventions in addressing this prevalent condition. Importantly, recent findings 17 underscore the fact that more than 60% of SUI patients do not require surgical interventions, highlighting the pressing need to explore nonsurgical treatment alternatives. This statistic emphasizes the relevance and importance of evaluating the effectiveness of nonsurgical options such as Kegel exercises and extracorporeal magnetic innervation in managing SUI.…”