Reflective assessment and management of a 39-year-old female with stress urinary incontinence

Author(s): V. Price - Pages: 58–66

Abstract

A 39-year-old woman was referred for the assessment and treatment of long-term stress urinary incontinence (SUI) that was becoming increasingly problematic. On subjective assessment, it was determined that her symptoms had been present since she had been pregnant with her first child 9 years before. The subject’s main complaint was involuntary loss of urine when sneezing and, occasionally, while running. A vaginal examination detected no abnormalities, but there was no evidence of reflex pelvic floor activity when the subject coughed and only minimal hold was evident during conscious pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction. A structured PFM home exercise programme and ‘‘The Knack’’ were prescribed in order to reduce the symptoms of SUI, along with specific lifestyle changes. Since the subject has a good basic level of PFM function and is well-motivated, the management plan is predicted to produce good results.

Keywords: exercise, pelvic floor muscles, stress urinary incontinence, vaginal examination.