THE IMPACT OF HIPOPRESIVE EXERCISE ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN WITH STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) affects a significant proportion of the female population and has direct impact on the quality of life (QL). The scientific advance paved the way for new treatments. Objective: Verify the impact of treatment with hypopressive abdominals exercises (HAE) on muscle strength of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and relationship to QL in women with UI of effort. Method: Study of quasi-experimental uncontrolled, with a group of six women in the postmenopausal period under treatment for 4 weeks with HAE. Muscle strength of PFMs was verified by means of biofeedback equipament pressure and Ortiz scale, and the impact on QL through the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), in the first and last meeting. Results: The domain impact of the KHQ showed a significant decrease in mean scores after treatment (p = 0.04), meaning better QL for patients. There was improvement in the scores of polaciuria symptoms, nocturia and UI during sexual relations. Was observed increase in PFM strength after treatment for both instruments (p = 7.0 ± 3 * in pre p = 43.7 ± 4 * in the post). The analysis of the correlation between the domains of the questionnaire and the values of biofeedback showed significance only in the domain of social limitations (p<0,001) in the first assessment. Conclusion: Treatment with EAH has a positive effect on QL in women with UI of effort in postmenopausal period. A larger sample would be relevant to obtain more consistent data.