Improvement in Quality of Life with Pelvic Floor Muscle Training and Biofeedback in Patients with Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis

Abstract

Objective: To prove the benefits of pelvic floor muscle training with biofeedback (BFB) as a complementary treatment in women with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). Methods: Prospective, randomized study in 123 women with BPS/IC. Groups: BFB+ (n = 48): women with oral drug treatment (perphenazine and amitriptyline) plus intravesical instillations (sodium hyaluronate) plus pelvic floor muscle training with BFB; BFB−: (n = 75): women with oral drug treatment plus intravesical instillations. Variables: age, body mass index (BMI), time of follow-up, length of disease, time free of disease, diseases and health conditions concomitant, and responses to the SF-36 health-related quality of life questionnaire at the first consultation (SF-36 pre-treatment), and at the end of the study (SF-36 post-treatment). The treatment was considered successful when the SF-36 score reached values equal to or greater than 80 points or when the initial value increased by 30 or more points. Results: Mean age was 51.62 years old (23–82). BMI was higher in BFB−. The mean length of BPS/IC condition was 4.92 years (1–20), shorter in BFB+ than in BFB−. Mean SF-36 score pre-treatment was 45.92 points (40–58), lower in BFB+ than in BFB−. Post-treatment SF-36 score was higher than pre-treatment SF-36 score both in BFB+ and BFB−. SF-36 values were higher in BFB+ compared to BFB− over the follow-up. Conclusions: BFB improves quality of life in women with BPS/IC as adjunct therapy to combined oral and intravesical treatment.