Behavioral Training With and Without Biofeedback in the Treatment of Urge Incontinence in Older Women

Abstract

Urge urinary incontinence is a common condition that affects millions of US individuals, especially older women.^1,2 It is usually treated with drugs that inhibit detrusor contractions,³ but adverse effects are common and behavioral treatments have also proven effective by changing voiding habits or teaching new continence skills.^4-11 Biofeedback-assisted behavioral training uses biofeedback to teach patients how to control the physiologic responses of the bladder and pelvic floor muscles that mediate incontinence.^5-9,11 It is effective for treating urge incontinence, producing improvements ranging from 76% to 86%, is at least as effective as drug therapy, and in 1 trial, it was more effective than immediate-release oxybutynin chloride.^6-9,11