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Overcoming incontinence after prostate cancer surgery: new hope for Australian men
Press release: 21 April 2009
Brisbane, Qld, 21 April 2009 - Many men facing surgery for prostate cancer dread the common side-effect of long term urine leakage almost as much as they fear the cancer itself.
But there's now hope that these men can substantially reduce their risk of urinary incontinence after surgery.
An Italian research team have found that men receiving twice-weekly pelvic floor electrical stimulation and biofeedback training, starting 7 days after the removal of their catheters and continuing for six weeks, suffered much less urinary incontinence than men who were simply told to exercise their pelvic floor muscles. Six weeks after surgery, twice as many of the treated men were continent, and after six months, virtually all of the treated men were continent, compared with only two-thirds of the control group.
"This is very reassuring news for Australia men" said Linda McClelland of Pelvic Floor Exercise, Australia's specialist supplier of pelvic floor strengthening aids.
"Because we are able to offer safe, reliable electrical stimulation and biofeedback devices for use in privacy at home, the benefits of this therapy are within the reach of all Australian men, regardless of where they live."
The Italian treatment program consisted of two 35 min sessions each week, each consisting of 15 minutes of biofeedback therapy and 20 minutes of electrical stimulation.
"This treatment program is particularly attractive to many men, as it takes little time, yet has yielded such excellent results", continued Linda. "Men are often daunted by the prospect of long-term therapy for post-prostatectomy incontinence, but will willingly embrace a simple 6 week treatment program that they can do for themselves in the privacy of their bedrooms. There's even more incentive now that this study shows that almost all the men who underwent this treatment overcame their urine leakage problems."
The Pericalm Pelvic Floor Stimulation Unit is a widely used electrical stimulation device perfect for home use, which can be combined with the Anuform anal electrode to provide the same stimulation as used in the Italian program. Biofeedback devices include either the PFXA which works on air pressure or the more sophisticated Peritone, which is battery powered and which again can be combined with an Anuform anal electrode,
For more information about pelvic floor strengthening for men, and electrical stimulation and biofeedback devices for home use, visit http://www.pelvicfloorexercise.com.au.
References
Mariotti, G and others Early recovery of urinary continence after radical protatectomy using early pelvic floor electrical stimulation and biofeedback associated treatment. Journal of Urology, 2009 April: 181(4) 1788-93.
Print-ready images of the Pericalm, PFXA, Peritone and Anuform electrode are available for download from http://www.pelvicfloorexercise.com.au/media/images.htm
About Pelvic Floor Exercise
Pelvic Floor Exercise is Australia's only specialist supplier of pelvic floor strengthening aids for both women and men. We work with medical and health professionals to assist Australians of all ages to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles.
For Further Media Information Contact :
Linda McClelland
Tel: 1300 76 39 40
Fax: 1300 79 44 39
Mob: 0417 641 697
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