Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscles strengthening for incontinence patients following incomplete spinal cord injury

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the effectiveness of of pelvic floor muscles strengthening for incontinence patients following incomplete spinal cord injury. Objectives: To identify the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life among spinal cord injury patient,to measure the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise. Methodology: Quasi-experimental design was used for the study. Total twenty two (22) incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) patients having urinary incontinence were selected for this study. The inclusion criteria for sample selection were: Patient with incomplete spinal cord injury, patient with incontinence, muscle power according to Oxford grade 3 or above, willingness to participate, Age range: 15-60 years, both male and female included. The exclusion criteria were: Patient with severe complications, muscle power according to Oxford grade below 3, Patient with mental illness, physically inactive patient, Age less than 15 years and more than 60 years are excluded. Twenty two (22) patients were randomly assigned into two groups named ‘Control group’ and ‘Experimental group’ by lottery. The data collection was done by a King’s Health Questionnaire and bladder diary that was used before treatment and after treatment. Result: Data analysis was done with a statistical calculation using inferential statistical parametric unrelated‘t’ test. In this study three domains: Physical limitation, Severity measures, Episodes of leaking urine had showed significant level of ‘p’ value (p<0.025, p<0.025, p<0.025), were two domains: General health perception, Incontinence impact had not significant level of ‘p’ value (p>.01, p> .01). Conclusion: The researcher concluded the study with the result that pelvic floor muscle strengthening (PFME) is more effective for incontinence patients following incomplete spinal cord injury than the no other treatment. But the results can’t be generalized to a wider population having small sample size as well as other limitations.