Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in People With Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Survey.
Maya Sato-Klemm, Alison M M Williams, W Ben Mortenson and 1 others
PMID 36189004WHAT IT FOUND
People with spinal cord injury know about pelvic floor muscle training and want to learn more, but very few have actually done it.
Most said a clinician never discussed it with them, and men were less likely to know how to access it than women.
Key findings
01Only 28% of respondents reported that a health care professional had discussed pelvic floor muscle training with them since their injury.
02While 86% of respondents wanted to learn more about pelvic floor muscle training, only 20% had engaged in a training program.
03Men were significantly more likely than women to report being unsure of where to go for pelvic floor muscle training.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample was heavily skewed toward women (62%), whereas the global spinal cord injury population is mostly male. This means the findings may not accurately represent the male experience. Participants were self-selected and mostly from North America, so results may not apply to other regions or healthcare systems. The survey relied on self-reported data without clinical verification of injury level or current urogenital health status. The study did not measure whether participants were actually suitable candidates for pelvic floor muscle training.
Declared interests
The authors declared no commercial or financial conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the low uptake of pelvic floor muscle training as a lack of patient interest. The survey showed high willingness to learn, suggesting the barrier is likely a lack of clinician recommendation and clear access pathways rather than patient refusal.