Abstract
Importance: There are limited data to determine the change in severity, efficacy, and mechanism of action of yoga-Pilates in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of an 8-week web-based home yoga-Pilates exercise program on SUI severity and to evaluate the potential mechanism of action through ultrasound examination of the urethral rhabdosphincter cross-sectional area. Study Design: This was a prospective cohort study of women with SUI. Participants underwent visits pre- and post-intervention, completed quality of life/severity surveys, and underwent pelvic examination and 3-dimensional transperineal ultrasonography to determine the urethral cross-sectional area. Pre- and post-intervention 24-hour voiding diaries were also collected. The intervention was an 8-week online yoga-Pilates video that tracked and prompted participation. Results: Sixty women completed the study; they were predominantly premenopausal (67%) and vaginally parous (65%) and had done yoga (76%) and/or Pilates (44%). Seventy-three percent performed the exercises ≥3 times per week. For the primary outcome, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Urinary Incontinence Short Form score improved from 9.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.7-10.4) to 7.1 (95% CI, 6.3-7.9) (P < 0.001). The median (interquartile range) number of incontinence episodes per 24 hours decreased from 1 (1-3) to 1 (0-1) (P < 0.001). The Brink pelvic floor strength score improved from 7.1 (95% CI, 6.6-7.7) to 7.7 (95% CI, 7.2-8.2) (P = 0.01). Eighty-three percent reported that they were 'better' on Patient Global impression of Improvement. There were no significant changes in urethral measurements. Conclusions: Although it did not meet the minimal clinically important difference, this 8-week web-based yoga-Pilates exercise program improved SUI symptoms and decreased the number of incontinence episodes in women with SUI.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 252-259 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Urogynecology |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2023 |
Keywords
- Pilates
- rhabdosphincter
- stress urinary incontinence
- yoga
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Urology
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Surgery