Several techniques have been developed and adapted to improve pelvic floor function, including Kegel exercises, pelvic floor muscle training, and the use of vaginal cones. In this randomized trial, which scored 4 out of 10 on the PEDro scale for methodological quality, the authors aimed to compare the effectiveness of a new vaginal cone with conventional Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)-Biofeedback therapy in treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and rehabilitating the pelvic floor. A total of 120 patients seeking non-surgical treatment for SUI were randomly assigned to two groups: the FES + Biofeedback group (BFB group) and the vaginal cone group. Over a period of six weeks, the BFB group received two training sessions per week. The vaginal cone, developed domestically and weighing 150 grams, was provided to the cone group. A therapist instructed the patients on pelvic floor exercises using the cone, which they were directed to repeat daily at home. Weekly follow-up visits were conducted for these patients. Both groups demonstrated significant objective improvements, with 88.3% and 91.6% of the cone group and BFB group, respectively, showing improvement after treatment. No hubo diferencias significativas en las puntuaciones de mejoría o insatisfacción entre los dos grupos. There were no notable differences in dissatisfaction or improvement scores between the two groups. In conclusion, the therapeutic effects of FES-Biofeedback and the new vaginal cone groups were found to be comparable. Both techniques exhibited similar effectiveness in terms of reducing objective symptoms and enhancing quality of life. The new vaginal cone is user-friendly for home use and facilitates pelvic floor muscle exercises. Therefore, it can be considered as an alternative non-surgical treatment option for female SUI.
David Lucena Atón
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