Static and Dynamic Balance in Women with and without Stress Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is one of the clinical symptoms of pelvic floor muscle instability whose potential role in the body balance has been suggested. The present study aimed to compare static and dynamic balance indices in women with and without Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI).

In the present cross-sectional analytic study, 15 women with and 15 women without SUI were enrolled. After collecting demographic data, the static balance indices, time to stability, rate of loading during landing, and ground reaction force during walking were measured using the force plate device. Independent t tests were used for data analysis and the significance level was set at p≤0. 05.

The length of the route of the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior (p=0.004) and lateral (p=0.002) directions, the velocity of the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior (p=0.004) and lateral (p=0.002) directions, and length of total path traveled with open eyes in women with and without SUI had significant difference. All of the static balance indices were significantly different between the two groups (p< 0.05). Time for stability in the vertical (p=0.001), anterior-posterior (p=0.008), and lateral (p=0.044) directions in the group without SUI was significantly less than that of the group with SUI.

Based on our results, almost all static and dynamic balance indices were weaker in women with SUI than in women without SUI. Therefore, it can be concluded that pelvic floor muscles, as a part of core muscles, play an important role in postural control.