Luigi Frigerio

Urogynaecologia International Journal. Vol.4, n.1/2 - Jan. Aug. 1990
( in coll. G.Banfi, S.Ferrari, C.Cerri, L.Pellegatta, N.Spano )
Summary: Eighteen female patients, with urinary stress incontinence (grade I, II, and III) were submitted to electrostimulation and biofeedback techniques, using a special equipement to maintain the contraction of pelvic floor musculature. Digital evaluation was performed before kinesitherapy and results were coded. The presence of rectocele, cystocele and uterine prolapse was recorded and graded before and after therapy. Similarly the interlabial vulvar distance was recorded on a category scale. Electrostimulation was performed endovaginally with bidirectional pulses of 0.5 up to 38 mV given for 3 sec. followed by a 6 sec. interval. Biofeedback technique consisted in instructing the patients to contract her pelvic muscles when biofeedback equipment rings a bell, mantaining the contraction until a repeated acustic signal. Contracture was recorded by an intravaginal transducer and was shown as a vertical bar on the equipment display. Kinesitherapy consisted of 5 series of 20 isometric contractions during 5 sec. and repeted after 10 sec. The global stenia was markedly improved in all patients ( from a mean of 2.3 before to a mean of 4.3 after treatments). Particularly noticeable is the disappearance of all episodes of urinary leakage related to caugh and physical stress.