BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a condition affecting millions of Americans. Few studies have assessed the benefits of different exercises involved in pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a traditional PFMT program to an assisted pelvic floor muscle training (APFMT) program that included contraction of hip musculature. METHODS: Eleven subjects, ages 42 to 74, were obtained from a convenience sample of women diagnosed with SUI by an urogynecologist. The degree of incontinence was determined by the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire (ICIQ_UI Short Form), the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6 Short Form) and the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI). Changes in the electrical activity of the pelvic floor musculature were determined using the Prometheus Pathway NMR 400 quad channel EMG and a 4 day bladder diary was completed. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups: traditional pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and assisted pelvic muscle training (APFMT) and received instructions from a physical therapist on these exercises. Surface EMG (sEMG) data was taken monthly and all baseline measurements were repeated at the end of 12 weeks. General linear model repeated measures tests were run to determine if there was a statistically significant, within-group difference in the long, moderate, or short hold measures taken at baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12 to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in these measures between the two groups. Paired sample T tests were run to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between baseline and study completion on the ICIQ_UI, UDI-6, or ISI. Gain scores were calculated as final minus initial ICIQ_UI, UDI-6, and ISI scores and independent samples T tests were run to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in gain scores between groups. RESULTS: Six subjects completed the study, two in the PFMT group and four in the APFMT group. There was a statistically significant within-group improvement from pre- to post-test for long, moderate, and short hold measures for both groups. There was no statistically significant between-group effect on these measures. Paired samples T tests revealed a statistically significant difference in the pre to post ICIQ_UI, UDI-6 and the ISI. Independent samples t-tests revealed a statistically significant difference in the gain scores for the UDI-6 between groups. Subjects reported increases in quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study are consistent with previous research that pelvic floor muscle training is beneficial in increasing function and decreasing subjective views on level of SUI. Further research with a larger sample size, a control group and utilization of more sensitive measures is needed in order to determine the most effective exercises.

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