Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Rehabilitation in Neurological Disorders: Bridging Pathophysiology With Multidisciplinary Approaches-A Focused Mini-Review.
Tugba Birben Kurt, Derya Caglar
PMID 41677798WHAT IT FOUND
Conservative rehabilitation, particularly pelvic floor muscle training, is recommended as first-line therapy for neurogenic urinary dysfunction in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke.
Evidence supports its use alone or combined with biofeedback, electrical stimulation, or nerve stimulation to improve continence and quality of life.
Key findings
01Pelvic floor muscle training is recommended as a first-line conservative approach for pelvic floor dysfunction associated with neurological disorders.
02In people with multiple sclerosis, pelvic floor muscle training programs have been shown to moderately decrease urine leakage and overactive bladder symptoms and improve sexual function and quality of life.
03Combining pelvic floor muscle training with neuromuscular electrical stimulation in multiple sclerosis has been associated with greater reductions in overactive bladder symptoms and stronger perineal contractions than training alone.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review follows a narrative rather than systematic methodology, meaning studies may have been selectively included based on relevance rather than exhaustive search. There is substantial heterogeneity in the underlying literature regarding neurological populations, assessment tools, outcome measures, and rehabilitation protocols. Many cited studies involve small sample sizes and short follow-up periods, limiting generalizability and conclusions about long-term effectiveness. Standardized rehabilitation protocols are lacking, and bowel and sexual outcomes are underrepresented in the reviewed literature.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as a new trial proving efficacy. This is a narrative review summarizing existing literature, which is characterized by heterogeneous protocols and small sample sizes. The recommendation for pelvic floor muscle training is based on consensus and prior reviews, not primary data from this paper, and optimal treatment strategies remain undefined due to lack of standardized protocols.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →