Physiotherapeutic approach for urinary incontinence in older adults in primary health care

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of the physiotherapeutic approach to urinary incontinence (UI) in the older population in a health center of Belém (PA). This is a proposal for strengthening pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in ten weekly meetings with progressive activities. Patients of both genders were included, and individuals with cognitive impairment, hemodynamic instability and immobility were excluded, as well as those with less than 50% participation in the meetings. Sociodemographic and clinical data were evaluated and quality of life (QoL) was analyzed through the King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ), which was reapplied at the end of the meetings. The initial sample consisted of ten older adults, aged 70.3±5.01 years, 80% female; 80% of the sample reported previous pelvic surgeries, three reported prolapses, of which two were in the bladder. The KHQ domains with higher scores and consequent worse QoL were the impact of UI (54.1±24.8), health perception (43.7±11.5), and severity measures (31.2±23.8). There was statistical significance in several domains of QoL of the patients undergoing the physiotherapeutic approach, demonstrating that even in a lower level of health care it is possible to have relevant effects on the UI and QoL of this public.