The Pulse

Improving Urinary Incontinence with Electrical Stimulation and Exercise

Posted by ACP on Nov 26, 2018 5:07:26 PM

Patient Information: Female, Age 74

Diagnosis: Urinary Incontinence / Hip Fracture

History: This woman was admitted to a skilled nursing facility with significant decline in mobility
and function after an extended hospitalization due to a fall and subsequent fractured hip. Prior to her fall she lived at home with her family. Due to the severe decline in her function, she received rehabilitation services for one month prior to the continence program being added to her plan of care. Urinary incontinence had been an issue for years, but got significantly worse over the course of her hospitalization.

Pre-Therapy Status:
•Urinary Incontinence Frequency: Six episodes per day and three episodes per night.
•Urinary Sensation: Unable to sense bladder fullness, need to void, or urine loss.
•Self-Care: Maximal (>75%) assistance for toileting.

Therapy Information:
•OmniStim® FX2 Pro Patterned Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (PENS), OmniCycle® Elite Motorized Therapeutic Exercise System
•Frequency: 5x per week.
•Protocol Specifics: Continence Improvement program lower extremity triphasic PENS
and medium frequency alternating current protocols to improve neuromuscular control for
urinary continence. Omnicycle lower extremity neuro mode to increase core and lower
extremity strength.
•Duration: Twelve weeks.
•Other Therapy Services Provided: Facilitatory pelvic muscle exercise and functional
mobility exercises.

Outcome:
• Urinary Incontinence Frequency: Zero episodes during the day and averaging one episode per night.
• Urinary Sensation: Able to sense bladder fullness and the need to void.
• Self-Care: Independent for toileting with use of a reacher to pull pants up.

This woman is thrilled with her progress in therapy. She states, “I can make it through the day without an accident! Thank you for working with my bladder.”

Topics: Patient Success Story, Continence Improvement