Effects of a group pelvic floor strengthening program on quality of life related to urinary incontinence in women over 60 years of age Effects of a group pelvic floor strengthening program on quality of life related to urinary incontinence in women over 60 years of age
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effect of a group pelvic floor strengthening program on urinary incontinence-related quality of life in women over 60 years of age. Methodology: A single-group, quasi-experimental study was conducted with 28 women over 60 years of age with stress, urge, or mixed urinary incontinence. The program was carried out at a community day center over 14 weeks, with group sessions twice a week that included Kegel exercises, hypopressive exercises, core and lower limb strengthening, and education on the pelvic floor and self-care. The King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and ICIQ-SF were administered before and after the intervention. Results: Participants were, on average, 70 years old, with a BMI close to 29, and most had a history of vaginal delivery; 54% presented with multimorbidity and 25% were taking polypharmacy. The ICIQ-SF showed a significant reduction in incontinence severity (from 9.71 to 6.03 points). Similarly, the KHQ showed significant improvements in several of its dimensions, reflecting a decrease in the impact of incontinence on quality of life. Overall, the results indicate that the intervention had positive effects on both the symptoms and the quality of life of the participants. Conclusion: A group intervention program for pelvic floor strengthening produces a significant improvement in the severity of urinary incontinence symptoms and in the quality of life of older women. Keywords: Urinary incontinence, pelvic floor, community program, quality of life, older adults.
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