For Urinary Incontinence, No Need to Add Biofeedback to Pelvic Floor Exercises

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

Adding biofeedback to pelvic floor muscle training does not improve urinary incontinence outcomes, according to a study in The BMJ.

Some 600 U.K. women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence were randomized to pelvic floor muscle training, with or without electromyographic biofeedback. In both groups, the women were offered six sessions with a continence therapist over 16 weeks plus a pelvic floor exercise regimen to perform at home. In the biofeedback group, an electromyographic device was used both with the therapist and at home; such devices use a vaginal probe to display the pelvic floor muscles' electrical activity on a screen, which is then used to guide the muscle exercises.

At baseline, the average incontinence severity score was roughly 12 (out of 21) in both groups. At 24 months, this had improved to approximately 8 in both groups. In addition, the groups did not differ in the proportion of women who improved or were cured.

The researchers conclude, "Routine use of electromyographic biofeedback ... should not be recommended."