INTRODUCTION: Current literature is inconclusive as to whether transversus abdominis (TrA) training can provide an additional benefit to pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training in female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). We designed a study to investigate the effect of PFM and TrA training on incontinence parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 females with SUI were randomised to PFM training alone or PFM plus TrA training. They all attended 12 weekly training sessions by a single physical therapist and completed relevant questionnaires at baseline and study completion. RESULTS: Both interventions reduced the number of incontinence episodes and improved quality of life (QoL) and sexual function. Women on PFM pkus TrA training reduced the number of used pads per day (p = 0.007), improved the QoL (p = 0.031) and the sexual lubrication score (p = 0.04), and reported bettesatisfaction rates compared to PFM alone (66.7% versus 43.3%). A subgroup analysis reported that women with pure SUI benefit more from combined PFM plus TrA training compared to PFM alone (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: TrA add-on to PFM training was similar to PFM training alone in the reduction of incontinence episodes but was superior in reducing the number of pads needed, which suggests a beneficial effect on the severity of incontinence.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PubMed Central
• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher