Effects of Spinal Stabilization on the Pelvic Floor in Women With Multiple Sclerosis

Launched by ABANT IZZET BAYSAL UNIVERSITY · Jul 10, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

In multiple sclerosis (MS), disruption of the neural pathways responsible for bladder control leads to the development of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). These symptoms, observed in approximately 32-96% of individuals with MS, have a significant negative impact on quality of life. Conservative management of LUTS includes lifestyle modifications, bladder training, and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). Although the effectiveness of PFMT has been demonstrated, there is no standardized protocol regarding exercise type or duration, indicating a gap in the literature concerning the identi...

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Female participants aged between 18 and 65 years
• • Being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis by a specialist neurologist and having lower urinary system symptoms \[Overactive Bladder-V8 scale score ≥ 9 and having at least two of the lower urinary system symptoms (urinary incontinence, nocturia, daytime urination frequency \>8, storage symptoms such as sudden feeling of tightness, intermittent urination, slow urine flow and emptying symptoms such as incomplete emptying)
• • Being in the mild or moderate stage of the disease (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ˂ 6
• • No relapse experienced within the past month
• • Scoring 24 or above on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
• • Being literate
• • Willingness to voluntarily participate in the study
• • Ability to perform voluntary pelvic floor muscle contractions
• • No changes in medical treatment within the past three months
• • Ability to understand and cooperate with the assessments and interventions involved in the study
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosis of one or more neurological disorders other than Multiple Sclerosis
• • Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30
• • Diagnosis of overflow urinary incontinence
• • History of antimuscarinic medication use
• • Presence of advanced pelvic organ prolapse (stage ≥ 2)
• • Active urinary tract infection
• • History of cesarean section or vaginal delivery within the past 6 months
• • Diagnosis of any other neurological condition that may cause urinary incontinence
• • History of urological or gynecological surgery
• • History of malignancy
• • Currently pregnant or not sexually active (coitus negative)
• • Participation in exercise training or physical therapy for lower urinary tract symptoms within the past 6 months