Physical activity and balance changes in women with urinary incontinence; a prospective study

Abstract

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Introduction: The main purpose of this study is to compare the physical activity and balance, in patients with stress urinary incontinence,overactive bladder and control group, objectively and subjectively. Secondary purpose was to assess these findings in the terms of incontinence severity. Methods: In this study, 14 patients with stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder and 11 patients with no lower urinary tract symtpoms were included. Incontinence severity was evaluated with ICIQ-SF, IIQ-7, UDI-6, OAB-V8 forms subjectively and pad test objectively, physical activity were evaluated with IPAQ-SF and the form that we prepared for this study: "Avoidance of movement questionnaire". Balance was evaluated with stability index, open eye and closed eye test. Tineti gait and balance instrument, Berg balance scale, go and up test are also evaluated. Results: Median age was 48 (39-68). In study group all domains of Qualtiy of Life (QoL) except physical role functioning were lower than control group. Physical activity level was significantly lower in study group. Median metabolic equivalent score (MET) was 697 (49-2400) in study group and 2100 (580-2900) in control group (p=0.001). The median "Avoidance of movement questionnaire" was 21.5 in study group and 16 in control group and it was statistically significant (p=0.004). Balance and gait was affected in study group compare to control group. Mean Tinetti score, Berg balance scale, go and up test, eyes open/eyes closed balance test were significantly low in study group but stabilometry test is equal in these two groups. Incontinence severity were not correlated with subjective and objecitve balance evaluation but we found correlation with Avoidance of movement questionnaire and incontinence severity in correlation analysis. Discussion and Conclusion: Physical activity restriction, balance problem in tests and exam, imparied QoL score were found in patients with urinary incontinence compare to control group. Subjective and objective incontinence severity assesment and balance evaluation were not significicantly correlated.