Unpublished MSc thesis, Wiener Schule für Osteopathie, 2007/03, 47, type of study: ,rct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Free full text   (https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/3004)

Keywords:

biofeedback [17]
stress incontinence [6]
pelvic floor [26]
women [608]
female [655]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
OMT [3925]
randomized controlled trial [947]
WSO [508]

Abstract:

The goal of my work was to determine if a pelvic floor training program, supported by biofeedback and supplemental osteopathic treatments, could lessen the symptoms of stress incontinence. It was my idea, that the body would be brought into greater balance through the osteopathic treatments, and the functioning of the pelvic floor would thus improve. It was my intention to round out the results using biofeedback-assisted strengthening of the pelvic floor. My study involved the treatment of 22 women who all suffer with stress incontinence, level I through II. All of the test subjects are post-menopausal and have had at least one child. The women were divided into two groups of 11; i.e. a test group and a control group. Grouping was done randomly. Both groups participated in seven biofeedback/training sessions. The first six sessions occurred weekly. Following a four week pause, the women took part in the seventh session. During the study period, the women in the test group also received three osteopathic treatments which focused on their specific needs. Following the study, all participant were asked (two) questions; one regarding the subjective perception of improvement in their condition following treatment, the other in reference to the amount of time spent exercising the pelvic floor independently. On combining the results from the two groups, I could show a subjective improvement in symptoms. Moreover, it was shown that 71% of the subjects were motivated enough to do additional pelvic floor training independently. I also observed that there was no significant improvement in symptoms brought about bythe osteopathic treatments which took place in the time period of the study. In order to determine the best possible treatment for such patients, it is without question recommended that this study be repeated sometime in the future using a larger number of subjects.