ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of electrical stimulation of pelvic floor muscles on urinary incontinence (UI) in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI). Methods Seven patients (5 males and 2 females; average age: 32.5 years; average duration after injury: 7.5 months) with ISCI were treated with ESPFM applied on rectum (for male) or vagina (for female) for 30～45 min,once a day, 5 days a week for (2～3) months. The rate of success on stopping using catheters and the frequency and amount of urination were observed during treatment. Results Catheters were taken out successfully from all patients 2～3 weeks after treatment. Five out of the 7 patients had more self-control of urination than incontinence after 8 weeks of treatment though there was no significant difference in the amount of the urination. Conclusion ESPFM might improve the function of urinary bladder in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.