Quantifying the effectiveness of rehabilitation for post‐radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence: Novel pelvic floor function assessment using M‐mode ultrasonography

Abstract

Introduction This study aimed to develop a method for evaluating pelvic floor function using M‐mode ultrasound imaging and quantify the effectiveness of urinary incontinence rehabilitation. Case presentation Eight participants aged 66–76 years, with urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy, underwent pelvic floor muscle training. Using M‐mode ultrasound, we compared bladder base elevation time, length, and speed during pelvic floor muscle contraction. The results showed that four patients recovered urinary continence. Four patients displayed a 38.4%–80.1% reduction in urinary incontinence volume. Bladder elevation time was significantly reduced in all patients. Moreover, elevation speed increased significantly. Bladder base elevation time was 0.1 s in all patients in the acquired urinary continence group. Conclusions Reducing bladder base elevation time to <0.2 s might be essential to achieve urinary continence. An elevation time of ≥0.3 s indicated significant pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

Keywords

• bladder base elevation time
• pelvic floor muscle training
• physical therapists
• post‐radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence
• urinary bladder M‐mode ultrasonography