Efficacy Comparison between Kegel Exercises and Extracorporeal Magnetic Innervation in Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Mislav Mikuš
• Author: Držislav Kalafatić
• Author: Adam Vrbanić
• Author: Marina Šprem Goldštajn
• Author: Mislav Herman
• Author: Marta Živković Njavro
• Author: Klara Živković
• Author: Goran Marić
• Author: Mario Ćorić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Gynecology and Obstetrics

Abstract (english)

Background and Objectives: To estimate the effectiveness of Kegel exercises versus extracorporeal magnetic innervation (EMI) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Materials and Methods: A parallel group, randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia. After assessing the inclusion/exclusion criteria, each eligible participant was randomized to one of the two observed groups by flipping a coin: the first group underwent treatment with Kegel exercises for 8 weeks, while the second group underwent EMI during the same time interval. The primary outcome was the effectiveness of treatment as measured by the ICIQ-UI-SF overall score, eight weeks after the commencement of treatment.
Results: During the study period, 117 consecutive patients with SUI symptoms were assessed for eligibility. A total of 94 women constituted the study population, randomized into two groups: Group Kegel (N = 48) and Group EMI (N = 46). After 8 weeks of follow-up, intravaginal pressure values in the EMI group were 30.45 cmH2O vs. the Kegel group, whose values were 23.50 cmH2O (p = 0.001). After 3 months of follow-up, the difference was still observed between the groups (p = 0.001). After the end of treatment and 3 months of follow-up, the values of the ICIQ-UI SF and ICIQ-LUTSqol questionnaires in the EMI group were lower than in the Kegel group (p < 0.001). Treatment satisfaction was overall better in the EMI group than in the Kegel group (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Patients treated with EMI had a lower number of incontinence episodes, a better quality of life, and higher overall satisfaction with treatment than patients who performed Kegel exercises.

• Keywords (english): Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Magnetic Phenomena; Pelvic Floor; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence, Stress / therapy
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Medicina
• Numbering: vol. 58, no. 12, 1863
• e-ISSN: 1648-9144
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58121863
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:321383
• Publication: 2022-12-17
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/12/1863
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-04-24 11:08:07