Abstract
Objective: We aimed to compare the efficacy of resisted hip rotation (RHR) with that of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) as a conservative intervention for the treatment of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Study Design: This was a randomized clinical trial.
Background: Pelvic floor muscle training is well supported in the literature as an effective first-line intervention for women with SUI. A program incorporating RHR is currently promoted in continuing education courses as another effective intervention for this population. RHR has been observed in clinical use despite a lack of supporting literature.
Methods and Measures: Subjects were community-dwelling female volunteers with SUI. All were randomly assigned to either an RHR or PFMT exercise group. Each group exercised at home for 6 weeks, with weekly rechecks in a university setting. Outcome measures included leak frequency from a bladder diary, the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, the Urogenital Distress Inventory, and subjective reports of improvement.
Results: Twenty-seven subjects completed the 6-week protocol, 12 in the RHR group and 15 in the PFMT group. Average subject age was 53.87 years (SD = 12.75 years). Both groups showed significant improvement across all outcome measures. There was a significant group-time interaction in reported leaks per week, suggesting that the RHR group had a slightly steeper improvement trajectory (R2 = 0.073; P = 0.03). No other measures showed significant between-group differences or group-time interactions.
Conclusions: Both PFMT and RHR seem to be effective in the treatment of SUI. The present findings encourage further exploration of RHR in the treatment of SUI.