Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence With Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for a Woman With Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: A Case Report

Objective

The purpose of this report is to describe the effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) of a woman with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease.

Clinical Features

A 50-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of type II CMT disease was referred to treatment as a result of a complaint of urinary loss upon effort (ie, coughing and sneezing). She reported that the symptoms started about 36 months prior. The urodynamic study revealed SUI with a Valsalva leak point pressure of 84 cmH₂O.

Intervention and Outcome

The treatment of SUI was carried out through a PFMT program for 12 weeks (with supervision) and exercises at home for another 12 weeks. A specialized physiotherapist measured symptoms and severity of SUI (3-day urinary diary, 1-hour pad test), pelvic floor muscle function (digital palpation, manometry and dynamometry), effect of the SUI on quality of life (Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire), and adherence to the outpatient sessions and to home exercise sets, which also were assessed (exercise diary).

Conclusion

In this patient with CMT disease, improvements in urinary symptoms and severity of SUI, pelvic floor muscle function, and effect of SUI on quality of life were noted after PFMT.