Effects of spinal stabilization exercises focusing on the pelvic floor in women with overactive bladder

Introduction and hypothesis: The objective was to investigate the effects of spinal stabilization exercises (SSEs) focusing on the pelvic floor with regard to urinary symptoms, pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), core stability, quality of life (QoL), and perception of subjective improvement (PSI) in women with overactive bladder (OAB). Methods: Patients were randomly divided into SSE (n=23) and control (n=24) groups. The SSE group received SSEs focusing on the pelvic floor for 3 days a week for 8 weeks and recommendation. The control group received only recommendation. Before (BT) and after treatment (AT), urinary symptoms were evaluated with Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-Version 8 (OAB-V8) and bladder diary. PFMS, core stability, and QoL were assessed using the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS), Sharman test, and King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ) respectively. AT, PSI with a Likert-type scale, and compliance with recommendations using a visual analog scale were assessed. Results: The OAB-V8 and the KHQ scores, the number of voids per day and voids per night decreased and the MOS and the Sharman scores increased in the SSE group (p<0.05). In the control group, the OAB-V8 and incontinence effect, social limitations, emotional state, and sleep sub-dimension scores related to KHQ decreased (p<0.05). The OAB-V8, role and physical limitations, emotional state, and sleep sub-dimension scores decreased more, and the MOS, the Sharman, the PSI, and the compliance with recommendations scores increased more in the SSE group than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The SSEs focusing on the pelvic floor improved urinary symptoms, PFMS, core stability, QoL, and PSI. This exercise approach may be beneficial in the management of OAB.