Does physiotherapist-guided pelvic floor muscle training increase the quality of life in patients after radical prostatectomy? A randomized clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to study the effect of postoperative physiotherapist-guided pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) parameters in patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted at St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway. Eighty-five men were randomized into two intervention groups (A and B). patients in group A (n = 42) were offered physiotherapist-guided PFMT (in groups or by DVD) once weekly throughout the first 12 months after RP, while those in group B (n = 43) trained on their own. HRQoL data were assessed using the University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI) and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) health survey. The physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the SF-12 plus the urinary, sexual and bowel function and bother of the UCLA-PCI make up the eight quality of life outcomes used in this study. Data were obtained preoperatively (baseline), 6 weeks, and 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: Eighty patients completed at least one follow-up assessment, 38 in group A and 42 in group B, giving a dropout rate of 5.9%. The overall response rates were 96% at baseline, 83% at 6 weeks, 90% at 3 months, 88% at 6 months and 68% at 12 months. No statistically significant difference in HRQoL was found between groups A and B.

CONCLUSIONS: Even though physiotherapist-guided training of the pelvic floor muscles after RP improved postoperative urinary incontinence significantly compared to those patients receiving standard care/training, this was not reflected in better outcome in HRQoL parameters.