An evaluation of pelvic floor muscle exercises and electrical muscle stimulation in patients with stress incontinence

INTERVENTION: Women will be randomly allocated to one of the following groups: 1. Pelvic floor exercises alone 2. The new pattern of electrical stimulation alone 3. Pelvic floor exercises and the new pattern of electrical stimulation CONDITION: Stress incontinence ; Urological and Genital Diseases ; Other disorders of urinary system PRIMARY OUTCOME: Patients were assessed pre, mid and post‐treatment using: ; 1. Digital vaginal assessment of pelvic floor muscle strength using the modified Oxford; Grading Scale ; 2. Assessment of vaginal muscle strength and endurance using the PRS 9300 perineometer (Incare Medical Products, USA); 3. One‐hour pad test as recommended by the International Continence Society (ICS) SECONDARY OUTCOME: The following were only used pre‐ and post‐treatment: ; 1. Seven‐day frequency/volume chart; 2. 36‐item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36); 3. The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire ; 4. The Urogenital Distress Inventory INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Females with stress incontinence between the ages of 18 and 70. Added 12/01/2009: 2. Urodynamically proven stress incontinence 3. No neurological conditions diagnosed by consultant