The Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise on Urinary Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of pelvic floor muscle exercise on reducing the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence and improving attitude toward exercise and quality of life. METHOD: The research adopted was a nonequivalent control group pretest posttest design. The subjects were 55 persons who were surveyed using a structured questionnaire, and 23 persons in the experimental group among the total sample were measured for the peak pressure and the duration of PMC and trained correct pelvic floor muscle contraction using peritron in the first week. Then, pelvic floor muscle exercise was implemented for 6 weeks. The data was analyzed by chi2-test and t-test with the SPSS 10.0 program. RESULTS: 1) The degree of stress urinary incontinence, frequency of urination, nocturia, urgency, noctural incontinence, the frequency and quantity of incontinence, outer clothing change and incomplete emptying decreased significantly more in the experimental group than in the control group. 2) Attitude toward pelvic floor muscle exercise and the quality of life were improved significantly more in the experimental group than in the control group. 3) The peak pressure and duration of PMC increased significantly more in the posttest. CONCLUSION: Based on the results above, it is judged that pelvic floor muscle exercise is an effective nursing intervention in order to care for stress urinary incontinence.