Table 5.
Details of pelvic floor muscle training regimens
| Author and year | PFMT at home dose | PFMT in clinic dose | Graded training | Duration | PFMT delivery | Methods for compliance | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Sessions/day | # Contractions/session | Minutes/session | # Sessions/week | # Contractions/session | Minutes/session | Individual | Group | Supervised | Unsupervised | Device assisted training | ||||
| Mechanism 1. Enhanced PFM strength | ||||||||||||||
| Bø (2003) | 3 | 3 sets of 8–12 per daya | 1 | 6 mo | X | X | X | X | Meet wkly for intensive group | |||||
| Burns et al. (1993) | 4 sets of 20 (10 quick + 10 sustained), then ↑ 10 per set to 200 | 1 | 25–35 | X | 8 wkb | X | X | X | Biofeedback (1 of 2 groups) | Call and exercise reminder cards | ||||
| Dinc et al. (2009) | 2–3 | 3 sets of 10–15 | X | 12–28 wk | X | X | ||||||||
| Dougherty et al. (1993) | 3/wk | 15–45 | X | 16 wk | X | X | Audio recording | Call and written records wkly | ||||||
| Hahn et al. (1993) | 6–8 | Maximal, during jumping and coughing | 1 × 4–5 wks then monthly for measures | 1–18 mo (mean 4.7 ± 0.2) | X | X | ||||||||
| Hung et al. (2012) | ≥ 3 | 6 high-intensity (hold 10 s and rest 10 s) | 4 mo | X | X | |||||||||
| Kim et al. (2007) | ≥ 2 for follow up | 2–3 sets | 30 for follow up | 2 then monthlyc | 20a | 60 | 12 wkd | X | X | X | X | Fitness exercises | ||
| Nystrom et al. (2018) | 3 | 6 basic + 6 advance | X | 3 mo | X | X | App-based + Knack | |||||||
| Segal et al. (2016) | 2 | 1–7 | 1/two wks | 3 | X | 16 wk | X | X | FemiScan trainer device | |||||
| Sun et al. (2018) | 3 | 10 slow + 3–4 fasta | 20 | 2 | 20 | 6–8 wk | X | X | X | Biofeedback + electrical stimulatione | ||||
| Theofrastous et al. (2002) | 2 | 5 quick + 10–20 sustained | 1 × 4 wks | 30 | X | 12 wk | X | X | X | Biofeedback | ||||
| Mechanism 2. Maximized awareness of timing | ||||||||||||||
| Cammu et al. (2000)f | As frequently as possible + Knack | 2 | 20 | 30 | X | 10 wk | X | X | X | |||||
| Junginger et al. (2014) | Engage precontraction into daily life | Median 2 (1–6) for study period | ?g | 15–90 (total 60–240) | 4–6 wkh | X | X | X | Perineal ultrasound | |||||
Blank cells = information was not appliable or not available. Articles retained from search results (n = 13 including 11 for enhanced PFM strength mechanism and 2 for maximized awareness of timing mechanism). This table focuses on tabulation in readiness of integration of information for critical analysis of the general quality of studies on PFMT to treat urinary incontinence, while also testing for theorized mechanism/s of effect
PFMT, pelvic floor muscle training; PFM, pelvic floor muscle; mo, month; wk, week; TrA, transversus abdominis
aPerformed in supine, sitting, and standing positions with legs apart
bFollow up at 3 months and 6 months
cAdded 2 times 60-min exercise sessions plus fitness exercises for 12 weeks and then monthly for 12 months
dFollow up at 12 months
eFor women with two times incontinence after completed basic training or with week strength for active training
fA 10-year PFMT follow up article was also found in the main PFMT strengthening theory literature search, but it was not included in the analysis of results for the main PFMT strengthening theory since it did not report PFM strength and had no statistical analysis of correlation between changes in PFM strength and incontinence
gTrA precontraction + Knack + urge strategies, number of contractions was not clear from the article
hFollow up at 1 to 16 months (median 7, mean 7.6)