Efficacy of an assisted low-intensity programme of perioperative pelvic floor muscle training in improving the recovery of continence after radical prostatectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Another study in favor of post prostatectomy treatment of UI.  In this RCT the treatment group received one pre op visit and post op visits at one month intervals till UI was gone.  Visits included instruction and “biofeedback”  (I can only get the abstract so not sure what kind of biofeedback).   Author discussion on MedScape states they do not think exactly what is offered is important – several studies with different patterns of treatment have come up with the same conclusion – it is just important to make sure the patient is doing the exercises correctly and that they keep doing them.  In this study significantly more patients in the exercise and biofeedback group achieved complete continence at one, three, and six months of follow-up (p=0.02, 0.01 and 0.002, respectively).  QOL scores did not reach significance – this has been the common finding in other studies also.  One of the down falls of this paper is the relatively short follow up.  Many studies point out the lack of a significant difference between groups one year after surgery.  Still there seems to be an overall change in the thoughts about post-operative UI and many urologists are offering treatment to all men after prostate surgery.  If the urologists in your area are not, you may want to collect some articles and approach them with a plan as outlined in this (or other) papers.