Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2026, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (6): 690-698.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2026.06.007

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Effect of functional pelvic floor muscle training on stress urinary incontinence in women

LI Ya'nan1a,2, YE Miao1a,2(), WU Juan1b,2(), CHEN Cong1a,2, WAN Lingfang1a,2, YU Lili1a,2, GAO Linlin1b, QIN Yi1c, JING Huafang1b   

  1. 1 a. The Second Department of Physical Therapy; b. Department of Urinary Rehabilitation; c. Department of Gynecology, Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing 100068, China
    2 Capital Medical University School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Beijing 100068, China
  • Received:2026-02-04 Published:2026-06-25 Online:2026-06-24
  • Supported by:
    China Rehabilitation Research Center Research Project(2023ZX-05)

Abstract:

Objective To observe the effect of functional pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor muscle function, incontinence symptoms and quality of life in female patients with stress urinary incontinence(SUI).
Methods From February, 2024 to July, 2025, 40 female patients with SUI were recruited from Beijing Bo'ai Hospital and advertisements. They were randomly divided into control group(n=20)and experimental group(n=20). The control group received conventional pelvic floor muscle contraction and relaxation training, and the experimental group received functional pelvic floor muscle contraction and relaxation training, for eight weeks. The data of pelvic floor muscle strength, pelvic floor muscle surface electromyography(sEMG), 1-hour urine pad test and Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire(I-QOL)were collected before and after training. The compliance rate was counted after training.
Results One case dropped down in the control group and three cases dropped down in the experimental group. After treatment, the pelvic floor muscle strength increased in both groups(|Z|>3.317, P<0.01), the pre-resting average value, sustained contraction average value and durable contraction average value of sEMG improved in the control group(|t|>2.731, P<0.05), the mass of 1-hour urine pad significantly reduced(t>9.215, P<0.001)and the I-QOL score significantly increased(|t|>13.229, P<0.001)in both groups; compared with the control group, the pelvic floor muscle strength significantly increased(Z=-2.281, P=0.023), the mass of 1-hour urine pad significantly reduced(t=4.215, P<0.001), the I-QOL score significantly increased(t=-4.501, P<0.001), and the compliance rate significantly increased(Z=-2.798, P<0.01)in the experimental group.
Conclusion Functional pelvic floor muscle training can significantly improve pelvic floor muscle strength, incontinence symptoms and quality of life in female patients with SUI.

Key words: stress urinary incontinence, pelvic floor function, functional activities, functional pelvic floor muscle training

CLC Number: