Urinary incontinence (UI) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is one of the most common complications that significantly reduce the quality of life of patients. The main conservative non-drug treatment for UI is pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). Between 40 and 60% of patients are not allocated to contract the pelvic floor muscles, especially if these muscles are anatomically hidden. Instead of activating m. levator ani, patients usually contract antagonist muscles - an increase in the abdominal muscles, gluteal, femoral muscles, an even greater increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Such drugs are used not only ineffective, but also in accordance with the norms of industrial incontinence. In this regard, the question arose of the need to teach patients how to properly perform exercises, for which the method of biofeedback PFMT was proposed.
The aim of the study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of methods for treating men with UI after RP by biofeedback PFMT.

The study included 23 men aged 64 to 76 years (average age 60 years). The patients underwent laparoscopic prostatectomy for prostate cancer. The duration of incontinence after RP ranged from 4 to 12 months (average 8 months after surgery). Trainings were carried out once a week for 30-40 minutes during a month. Under the supervision of a doctor, the men performed 4 types of exercises. Quality of life and incontinence symptoms were assessed with the International Conference on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Incontinence severity was measured by the 1-hour and 24-hour pad test. The effectiveness assessment was carried out using a test for interrupting the flow of urine and the percentage of correctness of the exercise, which is measured on a stationary biofeedback device.

All patients completed the study. The mean score of the ICIQ - SF and IPSS before trainings was 19.5 and 8.4 points. After the biofeedback therapy, the average score respectively was 16.3 and 6.5. The average amount of lost urine at 1 and 24 pads before PFMT was 5.3 and 67.5 g. After treatment, this number decreased to 3.9 and 53.9. After trainings, the number of patients who were able to perform the urinary interruption test increased by 48 %.  By the end of therapy, the percentage of correct muscle function increased.

The results showed that the use of biofeedback therapy according to the proposed method is effective and safe.

PFMT in combination with biofeedback allows you to teach the patient to perform the exercises correctly, which increases their effectiveness, helps to shorten the treatment time and improve the quality of life of patients.