[Pelvic floor rehabilitation in women affected with stress urinary incontinence. Authors' experience].

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated pelvic floor rehabilitation as a possible treatment for urinary stress incontinence: a challenge to tradition.

METHODS

In this study 20 female subjects with urinary stress incontinence had rehabilitation therapy, at first in the outpatients clinic with motivated physiotherapists and afterwards by home exercises.

RESULTS

At the end of 3 months of training, stress incontinence had disappeared in 7 patients (35%), while an improvement was recorded in 13 (65%).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, pelvic floor rehabilitation program can be an effective alternative to surgical approach in reducing the frequency of urinary leakage. Further studies are needed to identify factors predicting success and to improve the techniques of pelvic floor rehabilitation.