Biofeedback and other therapies for the treatment of urinary incontinence in the elderly.
Alternative therapies hold potential promise for the treatment of urinary incontinence in the elderly. Assessment and comparisons of the efficacies of such therapies have been hindered by a lack of standardized definitions of urinary incontinence in the study populations, lack of standardization of treatment protocols, inadequate sample sizes, and lack of blinding and appropriate controls. Biofeedback has been the most extensively studied therapy and may provide appropriate adjunctive or primary therapy for select individuals. Other potential therapies, such as acupuncture, hypnosis, and herbal therapies, have not been sufficiently examined to make definitive recommendations.
Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami and the Miami VA Health Care System. Correspondence address: Room 1D200, Miami VA Medical Center, 1201 NW 16 St, Miami, FL 33125 Email: evan.cherniack@med.va.gov.