Effects of Kegel and General Fitness Exercises in Reducing the Severity of Urinary IncontinenceAn Interventional Study

Introduction: The involuntary flow of urine from the bladder is known as Urinary Incontinence (UI). Men and women of any age can experience incontinence, but it is more prevalent in older women. Several chronic illnesses and environmental variables increases incidence of UI in elderly adults. Most people in this modern era avoid seeking medical intervention early, due to financial worries as the current diagnostic and intervention methods are expensive. Aim: To use low-cost urinary diaper method for assessing the severity of UI and to study the effect of Kegel and therapeutic exercises in reducing the severity of UI in elderly women. Materials and Methods: This interventional study was conducted in an Inshape Physiotherapy Centre in Chennai, India. The duration of the study was five months, from August 2021 to December 2021. A total of 36 women with UI aged 55-75 years were included. The severity of UI among the participants was assessed using onehour Diaper Test (DPT), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and their level of fitness was evaluated using Senior Fitness Test (SFT). Kegel exercise, pelvic floor exercises were implemented following American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) standards. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0, and data collected was subjected to descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 69.43±3.4 years. As a result of the intervention, 13 out of 36 participants, who initially had severe UI showed improvement (10 participants improved to moderate UI and three participants improved to mild UI). Out of seven participants, who initially had moderate UI, three participants improved to mild UI. Eight out of the 36 participants showed no UI after intervention, indicating complete recovery. There is an association between the Body Mass Index (BMI), HAM-A and UI, the intervention results in the changes of BMI, and HAM-A thus, reducing the severity of UI. Conclusion: The present study showed that, cost-effective diagnostic and non invasive intervention methods reduced the severity of the UI. The study also recommends regular physical activities to reduce stress and anxiety levels, which in turn helps to improve UI.