[Assessment of pelvic floor muscle training programs and urinary incontinence in women: A literature Review]. / Évaluation des programmes d'entraînement musculaire du plancher pelvien et incontinence urinaire chez la femme : revue de la littérature.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Pelvic floor rehabilitation is efficient for the first line treatment of urinary incontinence in women. However, several questions remain as regards the best pelvic floor muscle training program to recommend. The objective was perform a literature review regarding the muscular strengthening program to recommend to treat stress or mixed urinary incontinence in women. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of studies on the topic using Medline's database covering the 10 last years. Among the 1130 articles that were identified, we retained 6 for our analysis. RESULTS: Given the heterogeneity of the exercise programs, it was impossible to exhaustively and comparatively analyze their efficacies. However, a significant improvement is noted when the exercises are based on the muscular training principles of the American College of Sports Medicine. They combine long and short contractions with the practice of the knack in situations of pressure exertion and are part of a self-rehabilitation program based on the needs of the patient and the individual's progression. CONCLUSION: Current knowledge does not allow us to recommend an optimal muscle training program to treat female urinary incontinence. Research must be conducted to evaluate different muscular training regimens but also their integration into a program based on personal needs as well as factors of adherence to the treatment of patients.