Biofeedback or pelvic floor muscle exercises for female genuine stress incontinence: a meta-analysis of trials identified in a systematic review.

Abstract

To test, by meta-analysis, the conclusion of a systematic review that biofeedback was no more effective than pelvic floor muscle exercises alone for the treatment of female genuine stress urinary incontinence. Data extracted from the five trials identified in the systematic review were subjected to pooled analysis of odds ratios for the outcome of 'cure'. The odds ratio for biofeedback combined with pelvic floor muscle exercises, compared with pelvic floor muscle exercises alone, leading to cure was 2.1 (95% confidence interval 0.99-4.4). Biofeedback may be an important adjunct to pelvic floor muscle exercises alone in the treatment of female genuine stress urinary incontinence. A quantitative statistical analysis of the studies identified leads to different conclusions from those in the systematic review.