Randomized Controlled trial of Group Versus Individual Physiotherapy Sessions for Genuine Stress Incontinence in Women

Pelvic floor muscle exercises are used since 1948 as first-line treatment for management of genuine stress incontinence in women. This pelvic floor muscle exercises can be delivered simultaneously to a group of women or individually on a one to one basis.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of group physiotherapy and individual physiotherapy sessions on the severity of incontinence & quality of life in patients with genuine stress incontinence.

40 women with chronic genuine stress incontinence were randomized into Group A - where women were delivered the pelvic floor muscle exercises in a group of 10 (n=20) & Group B - where pelvic floor muscle exercise on a conventional one to one basis, the individual approach (n=20) were administered. Outcome measures which included VAS for measuring severity of incontinence & King's health questionnaire for assessing quality of life were taken at baseline & at the end of 3 months intervention program.

Both the group A and group B showed improvement in severity of incontinence and quality of life postintervention when compared with preintervention measurement and ‘t'calculated value for pre-postintervention measures was statistically significant as it was above the ‘t’ tabulated value. Moreover, Mean±SD of pre-post change in VAS for group A was 2.02±0.46 and for group B was 1.94±0.43 and King's Health Questionnaire scores for group A was 30.09±5.3 and for group B was 21.51±6.73. ‘t'calculated value for pre-post changes was statistically not significant as it was below the ‘t’ tabulated value of 2.576.

Both group and individual physiotherapy pelvic floor muscle exercises for women with genuine stress incontinence are equally effective. One may choose anyone of it to gain benefits.