Protocol- and therapist-related variables affecting outcomes of behavioral interventions for urinary and fecal incontinence

Abstract

Biofeedback techniques used to treat urinary and fecal incontinence lack standardization. Most early protocols used a pressure device placed within the vagina or anal canal, or electromyographic (EMG) sensors in the same locations, to measure the external anal sphincter (EAS) or pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contractile function, and most early studies provided feedback from a single physiological transducer. The goal was to improve bowel and bladder control by improving EAS or PFM contractile function. Protocols that have resulted in the most consistent reductions in urinary incontinent episodes used 2 or more channels of physiological information to reinforce stable abdominal and bladder pressures concurrently with PFM contraction. For fecal incontinence, more significant treatment results were derived when protocols measured (1) patient perception of sensory cues associated with rectal distention and potential loss of stool, (2) short-latency EAS contraction when perceiving rectal distention, (3) inhibition of (extraneous muscle) activity that would increase intra-abdominal pressure during EAS contraction, and (4) reinforcement of sustained (up to 30 seconds) contractions rather than only brief 1- to 2-second contractions. Limited data support the use of surface abdominal EMG measures as indices of extraneous muscle activity associated with increased intra-abdominal pressure and anal or vaginal EMG probes to obtain measures of PFM function. Better results may also be obtained when there are at least 4 training sessions, when daily home exercises are prescribed, and when the therapist is well trained and experienced. These inferences are based for the most part on indirect evidence, and more studies are needed that compare different treatment protocols.