How effective is the biofeedback for incontinence?
Biofeedback therapy uses electronic tools to measure and provide feedback on the user's neuromuscular activity. It is used for successful treatment of both urine and faecal incontinence. Scientific studies show that biofeedback for incontinence is an effective treatment. It seems that some populations and types of problems - such as urinary incontinence in women - respond to biofeedback for incontinence than others.
doctors have long trained patients to practice pelvic floor muscles to help prevent incontinence. However, people do not see their pelvic floor muscles, so it is often difficult for the patient to find out whether he tightens the right muscles. Biofeedback helps patients to see what is happening to their muscles. The feedback is provided through the sounds of the arosfly with graphs and images that show patients using muscles and how strong these muscles are. Biofeedback allows patients to learn how to download the right muscles, then these muscles are used to check the bladder or to check Pbowel bends.
Studies show that biofeedback seems to work most successful on the treatment of urine incontinence in women. In studies of biofeedback therapy, it has eliminated urine incontinence for women and proved to be more effective than other treatment, even medicines. Biofeedback is also used to treat fecal incontinence in adults and children. The evidence is not as strong as for urine incontinence in women, but studies have shown that biofeedback can be used to treat faecal incontinence in most people. It seems to be particularly useful in situations after surgery.
Most studies on biofeedback for urine incontinence in men were performed after men have gone through prostatectomy and these studies showed mixed results. Some studies point to biofeedback as a successful treatment, but others have shown that it was not useful. Limited studies on biofeedback for urine incontinence in children were conducted. Doctors say it works, but there are few clinical evidence.
Some types of biofeedback for incontinence focus on muscle strength and others focus on muscle coordination, but this seems to significantly affect the outcome. Most incontinence biofeedback is 30 minutes to one hour, with four to six sessions scheduled each other week. Doctors usually advise patients to practice pelvic floor exercises between relations. As with most incontinence treatment, biofeedback is most effective when patients visit all their sitting and practice at home as recommended.