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Efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in women with overactive bladder syndrome: a systematic review

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in reducing overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in women.

Methods

Searches were performed at MEDLINE, PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Scielo, and Central Cochrane Library PubMed until January 2017. Controlled trials were researched by two independent reviewers. Eligible studies were restricted to random and controlled clinical trials that investigated the effectiveness of PFMT in decreasing OAB symptoms. Qualitative methodology was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Data was analyzed and interpreted qualitatively.

Results

The final search retrieved eight studies (n = 1161 women with urgency symptoms), which were published between 2002 and 2016. The methodological scores varied between 4 and 7 in the PEDro scale. PFMT, with the objective of controlling urgent micturition, demonstrated improvements in quality of life in women with OAB. Most data in this revision came from small- to moderate-sized trials, with different and inconsistent outcome measures, which could have impacted the end results.

Conclusions

The literature regarding the effectiveness of PFMT in OAB remains heterogeneous and inconclusive.

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Abbreviations

BFB:

Biofeedback

BT:

Bladder training

CPFR:

PFMT + BT: pelvic floor muscle training and combined pelvic floor rehabilitation

DeCS:

Descritores em Ciências da Saúde, Health Science descriptors

DO:

Detrusor overactivity

DT:

Drug therapy

FES:

Functional electrical stimulation

ICF:

International classification of functioning, disability and health

ICS:

International Continence Society

I-QOL:

Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire

ISI:

Incontinence Severity Index

KHQ:

King’s Health Questionnaire

MeSH:

Medical Subject Headings of the National Library of Medicine

MUI:

Mixed urinary incontinence

OAB:

Overactive bladder

PFM:

Pelvic floor muscle(s)

PFMT:

Pelvic floor muscle training

PEDro:

Physiotherapy Evidence Database

PPIU-S:

Patient’s Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale

RCTs:

Randomized controlled trials

SF-36:

Short-Form Health Survey

SUI:

Stress urinary incontinence

UI:

Urinary incontinence

UUI:

Urgency urinary incontinence

VC:

Vaginal cone

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais– PUC-Minas), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

    Silvia Monteiro, Angélica Araújo, Laryssa Galo & Nathália Brito

  2. State University of Campinas (Universidade Estadual de Campinas – UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil

    Cassio Riccetto & Simone Botelho

  3. Federal University of Alfenas (Universidade Federal de Alfenas – UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

    Simone Botelho

  4. UroFisioterapia Laboratory of the Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas - UNIFAL/MG, Av. Jovino Fernandes Sales, 2600 Santa Clara, Building C, Room 101-K, Alfenas, MG, 37130-000, Brazil

    Simone Botelho

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  1. Silvia Monteiro
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Correspondence to Simone Botelho.

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Monteiro, S., Riccetto, C., Araújo, A. et al. Efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in women with overactive bladder syndrome: a systematic review. Int Urogynecol J 29, 1565–1573 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3602-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3602-x

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