Quality of life in women with urinary incontinence after self-practicing Kegel exercises

Find out the quality of life in women with urinary incontinence after self-practicing Kegel exercises. A 12-weeks study was conducted to find out the quality of life in women with various types of urinary incontinence after self-practicing Kegel exercises. The study involved 22 women of different ages (34 - 76 years old). Participants were divided into 2 study groups: the 1st group: performed self-practicing 12-min. 6-Kegel exercise program 2x a day and, in addition, 1x daily 20 min. with the TensCare iTouch Sure 5033435110438 Pelvic Floor Exerciser for personal use, using a program tailored to participant’s urinary incontinence type; the 2nd group: performed self-practicing 12-minute 6-Kegel exercise program 2x a day. The study was completed by 10+10 participants (14-Stress urinary incontinence, 4-Urge urinary incontinence, 2-Mixed urinary incontinence). 18 out of 20 participants completed the study with urinary incontinence improvement. The overall average data, based on the three medical questionnaires: International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Urinary Incontinence Short Form, Urogenital distress inventory UDI-6 Short form and Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire, before and after study, shows a statistically significant improvement (ANOVA, p=0.001). Group 1 - average improvement - 15.6 points, group 2 - 18.7 points. The improvement only by Quality of Life questionnaire data is statistically significant - ANOVA, p=0.03. The average Quality of Life score of participants before the study - 44.65 points, after - 34.75 points (improvement as points decrease). Indicators of the Quality of Life for women with urinary incontinence after 12-weeks of self-practicing exercise, performing a specific program of Kegel exercises, improve because urinary incontinence rates decrease. The study confirms that independently but correctly performed Kegel exercises at home provide a solid improvement in cases of stress urinary incontinence.