Efeitos da reabilitação do soalho pélvico na incontinência urinária

Objectives: Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntary leakage of urine. It is classified as stress UI, urgency UI or mixed UI and has different degree of severity affecting patients’ quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation in UI. Methods: Retrospective analysis based on clinical files of female patients sent by Gynecology and undergoing rehabilitation treatment for UI from January 2009 to June 2010. Variables were analyzed using SPSS ® 17.0. Results: Total of 84 valid cases (5 excluded due to noncompliance - 8.2%) with an age average of 53 years. Of these, 59.5% had stress urinary incontinence, 39.3% mixed and 1.2% urgency. The average duration of  UI prior to referral to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was 10 years. Surgery had previously been performed without success in 11.9%. Each person had on average 22 sessions of physiotherapy. At the end of treatment 53.6% didnt have urinary incontinence, 23.8% considered themselves subjectively improved and 22.6% had the same complaints. Patients with previous surgical treatment reported improvement in 70% of cases. The VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) average for impact on QOL after treatment reduced 50%. Treatment was reinstituted in 14.3% due to relapse of symptoms and 10.7% required surgical treatment. Conclusion: Although this is a retrospective analysis, with all its limitations, this study reinforces the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in cases of UI. We believe that rehabilitation has beneficial effects in perception of leakage and improving QOL of patients, even when surgical treatment has failed. Keywords: Urinary incontinence; Quality of life; Exercise Therapy; Pelvic Floor.