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A new
study involving 152 women has found that a low-intensity behavioral
therapy program of bladder training can significantly reduce
urinary incontinent episodes for a majority of older women.
The study,
reported in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, divided
the women into two groups: 77 randomly assigned to participate
in behavioral therapy centered on urinary incontinence awareness
training,and 75 women serving as controls.
Behavior
group members took part in six weekly sessions that began
with the importance of pelvic muscle strength and instructions
on pelvic exercises, and details on how to keep a bladder
control journal of daily voiding habits.
In subsequent
support group meetings, the women discussed their diary entries
and set new voiding schedules, increasing time between bathroom
trips with an end goal of three hours between voidings. The
control group received no instructions and no support.
After
six weeks, the women in the support group reported a 50 percent
reduction in incontinent episodes, compared with a 15 percent
reduction in the control group.
The control
group members subsequently were also offered the behavior
therapy.
When women
in both groups were combined, researchers reported a 40 percent
overall decrease in incontinent episodes.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of July 7, 2002
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