A pre-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Kegel exercises in reducing urinary incontinence among women aged above 35 years. A total of 30 women were selected from four villages in Namakkal district using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire and a standardized Urinary Incontinence Assessment Scale. Most participants (33%) belonged to the age groups of 40–50 and 50–60 years, and most were married (87%). One-third (33%) had no chronic illness, 60% were engaged in moderate work, and approximately 73% reported a history of urinary tract infection and normal vaginal delivery. Additionally, 70% of the participants were postmenopausal. Pre-test findings revealed that 57% of the women had severe urinary incontinence and 23% had very severe symptoms. Following the intervention, post-test results showed a marked improvement, with 63% of participants reporting mild symptoms and 37% experiencing moderate symptoms. These findings suggest that Kegel exercises were effective in reducing the severity of urinary incontinence. Furthermore, a statistically significant association was observed between post-test urinary incontinence scores and selected demographic variables, including age, marital status, chronic illness, history of urinary tract infection, mode of delivery, and menopausal status (p < 0.05).

Keywords: Kegel exercises, urinary incontinence, women’s health, postmenopausal women,non-pharmacological intervention

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1. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P, Ulmsten U, et al. The standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function: Report from the Standardisation Sub-committee of the International Continence Society. Neurourol Urodyn. 2002;21(2):167–78. doi: 1002/nau.10052.
2. Cho ST, Kim KH. Pelvic floor muscle exercise and training for coping with urinary incontinence. J Exerc Rehabil. 2021;17(6):379–87. doi: 12965/jer.2142666.333.
3. Bo K, Berghmans B, Mørkved S, Van Kampen M. Evidence-based physical therapy for the pelvic floor. Int Urogynecol J. 2015;26(1):3–10.
4. Alouini S, Memic S, Couillandre A. Pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence with or without biofeedback or electrostimulation in women: A systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(5):2789. doi: 3390/ijerph19052789.
5. Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;10(10):CD005654. doi: 1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4.
6. Hu TW, Wagner TH, Bentkover JD, Leblanc K, Zhou SZ, Hunt T. Costs of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in the United States: A comparative study. Urology. 2004;63(3):461–5. doi: 1016/j.urology.2003.10.037.
7. Serati M, Ghezzi F. The epidemiology of urinary incontinence: A case still open. Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(6):123. doi: 21037/atm.2016.03.16.
8. Mohamed-Ahmed R, Taithongchai A, da Silva AS, Robinson D, Cardozo L. Treating and managing urinary incontinence: evolving and potential multicomponent medical and lifestyle interventions. Res Rep Urol. 2023;15:193–203. doi: 2147/RRU.S387205.
9. World Health Organization. World report on ageing and health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565042? utm_source=chatgpt.com.
10. Thakur R, Banerjee A, Nikumb V. Health problems among the elderly: A cross-sectional study. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2013;3(1):19–25. doi: 4103/2141-9248.109466.
11. Dumoulin C, Glazener C, Jenkinson D. Determining the optimal pelvic floor muscle training regimen for women with stress urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2011;30(5):746–53. doi: 1002/nau.21104.
12. Cammu H, Van Nylen M. Pelvic floor muscle exercises in genuine urinary stress incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 1997;8(5):297–300. doi: 1007/BF02765489.
13. Shamliyan TA, Kane RL, Wyman J, Wilt TJ. Systematic review: Randomized, controlled trials of nonsurgical treatments for urinary incontinence in women. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148(6):459–73. doi: 7326/0003-4819-148-6-200803180-00211.
14. Subak LL, Brubaker L, Chai TC, Creasman JM, Diokno AC, Goode PS, et al. High costs of urinary incontinence among women electing surgery to treat stress incontinence. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;111(4):899–907. doi: 1097/AOG.0b013e31816a1e12.
15. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Managing acute and chronic urinary incontinence. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 1996 Aug;8(8):390-403. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.1996.tb00681.x. PMID:9272038.

A pre-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Kegel exercises in reducing urinary incontinence among women aged above 35 years. A total of 30 women were selected from four villages in Namakkal district using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire and a standardized Urinary Incontinence Assessment Scale. Most participants (33%) belonged to the age groups of 40–50 and 50–60 years, and most were married (87%). One-third (33%) had no chronic illness, 60% were engaged in moderate work, and approximately 73% reported a history of urinary tract infection and normal vaginal delivery. Additionally, 70% of the participants were postmenopausal. Pre-test findings revealed that 57% of the women had severe urinary incontinence and 23% had very severe symptoms. Following the intervention, post-test results showed a marked improvement, with 63% of participants reporting mild symptoms and 37% experiencing moderate symptoms. These findings suggest that Kegel exercises were effective in reducing the severity of urinary incontinence. Furthermore, a statistically significant association was observed between post-test urinary incontinence scores and selected demographic variables, including age, marital status, chronic illness, history of urinary tract infection, mode of delivery, and menopausal status (p < 0.05).

Keywords: Kegel exercises, urinary incontinence, women’s health, postmenopausal women,non-pharmacological intervention

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P, Ulmsten U, et al. The standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function: Report from the Standardisation Sub-committee of the International Continence Society. Neurourol Urodyn. 2002;21(2):167–78. doi: 1002/nau.10052.
2. Cho ST, Kim KH. Pelvic floor muscle exercise and training for coping with urinary incontinence. J Exerc Rehabil. 2021;17(6):379–87. doi: 12965/jer.2142666.333.
3. Bo K, Berghmans B, Mørkved S, Van Kampen M. Evidence-based physical therapy for the pelvic floor. Int Urogynecol J. 2015;26(1):3–10.
4. Alouini S, Memic S, Couillandre A. Pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence with or without biofeedback or electrostimulation in women: A systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(5):2789. doi: 3390/ijerph19052789.
5. Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;10(10):CD005654. doi: 1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4.
6. Hu TW, Wagner TH, Bentkover JD, Leblanc K, Zhou SZ, Hunt T. Costs of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in the United States: A comparative study. Urology. 2004;63(3):461–5. doi: 1016/j.urology.2003.10.037.
7. Serati M, Ghezzi F. The epidemiology of urinary incontinence: A case still open. Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(6):123. doi: 21037/atm.2016.03.16.
8. Mohamed-Ahmed R, Taithongchai A, da Silva AS, Robinson D, Cardozo L. Treating and managing urinary incontinence: evolving and potential multicomponent medical and lifestyle interventions. Res Rep Urol. 2023;15:193–203. doi: 2147/RRU.S387205.
9. World Health Organization. World report on ageing and health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565042? utm_source=chatgpt.com.
10. Thakur R, Banerjee A, Nikumb V. Health problems among the elderly: A cross-sectional study. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2013;3(1):19–25. doi: 4103/2141-9248.109466.
11. Dumoulin C, Glazener C, Jenkinson D. Determining the optimal pelvic floor muscle training regimen for women with stress urinary incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2011;30(5):746–53. doi: 1002/nau.21104.
12. Cammu H, Van Nylen M. Pelvic floor muscle exercises in genuine urinary stress incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 1997;8(5):297–300. doi: 1007/BF02765489.
13. Shamliyan TA, Kane RL, Wyman J, Wilt TJ. Systematic review: Randomized, controlled trials of nonsurgical treatments for urinary incontinence in women. Ann Intern Med. 2008;148(6):459–73. doi: 7326/0003-4819-148-6-200803180-00211.
14. Subak LL, Brubaker L, Chai TC, Creasman JM, Diokno AC, Goode PS, et al. High costs of urinary incontinence among women electing surgery to treat stress incontinence. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;111(4):899–907. doi: 1097/AOG.0b013e31816a1e12.
15. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Managing acute and chronic urinary incontinence. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 1996 Aug;8(8):390-403. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.1996.tb00681.x. PMID:9272038.