Effects of Home-based High-intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training for Stress Urinary Incontinence

The IMT protocol consisted of home-based high-intensity daily training - two cycles of 30 breaths with a 1-minute rest between sets, twice a day for 8 weeks using an IMT Threshold device (Threshold IMT Philips® Respironics, Inc). The IMT was performed twice a day, 7 days/week, for 8 weeks. The study group performed IMT at 60% of their baseline MIP and was adjusted weekly based on the modified Borg scale from 4 to 6 regarding respiratory effort performed during the session, while the control group performed a sham-IMT without applied resistance. Patients are evaluated before the inspiratory muscle training and after 8 weeks of training.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence by a specialized Urologist
• Being female aged between 25 and 50 years
• To have the ability to access and use technological devices required by the study
• Being able to read and write
• Volunteering to research

Exclusion criteria

• Inability of the participant to understand or perform the procedures proposed during the evaluations or training program.
• Active urinary tract infection,
• pelvic organ prolapse stage 2 and more according to the pelvic organ prolapse staging system (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q))
• Fecal incontinence,
• Any neurogenic dysfunction of the lower urinary tract
• Conservative or surgical treatment of urinary incontinence in the last 12 months
• Previous pelvic floor training
• Less than three months after pregnancy or postpartum
• Having undergone any pelvic floor surgery (hysterectomy, etc.)
• Radiotherapy treatment in the last 12 months
• Severe low back pain or pelvic pain
• Lower extremity orthopaedic problems that may affect the pelvic structure (such as lower extremity inequality, total hip arthroplasty)
• Having any chronic respiratory disease
• Having any neurological disease
• Being in menopause
• Latex allergy