Abstract

Background and objective. Urinary incontinence (UI) is very common all over the world, especially among women, the current study conducted to investigate the effects of adding Pilates exercises to pelvic floor exercises aiming to manage postmenopausal women stress urinary incontinence. Methods. thirty postmenopausal women with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence their age ranged from 50-60 years old, were allocated into two equal groups randomly Group A (control) group received pelvic floor muscle exercises from different positions (crock-lying, sitting, and standing) while group B (study) group received both Pilates exercises with pelvic floor exercises. All exercises were performed twice a week, for twelve weeks. Perineometer was used for measuring pelvic floor muscles strength (pneumatic pelvic muscle trainer XFT-0010) and severity of stress urinary incontinence was measured by The Revised Urinary Incontinence Scale (RUIS) before and after treatment program. Results. A significant improve of Squeeze vaginal pressure after in compared to before treatment and significant reduction of Revised urinary incontinence scale after treatments in compared to before treatment in both groups. Moreover, no significant mean values differences in “post” test in-between both groups in the two tested variables. However, a clinically valuable improve was in favour of study group. Conclusion. Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises (PFE) is effective in improving post-menopausal stress urinary incontinence either alone or with Pilates exercises but doing both types of exercise together is more valuable from the practical point of view.

Key words:

stress urinary incontinence, revised urinary incontinence scale, squeeze vaginal pressure, pelvic floor exercises, pilates exercises