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TO: Staff
at KEGELMASTER
November 13, 2002
I agreed last summer to do an
informal qualitative study on the use of KEGELMASTER's resistive exercise
program on the effects of urinary incontinence in women. You sent me 25
units to use in the study which were distributed over a 6 week period. I
have not yet written the complete study as there are still 9 women who have
not reached the 90 day point in the study.
Results to date:
Units out: 23
Compliance rate
(5x/week for 5-10 minutes) 17/23 (74%)
Reasons reported for
noncompliance:
Discomfort: 1 (Note this was the oldest participant , had had 7 children
vaginally, a vaginal hysterectomy and a subsequent second AP Repair. She
reported sacral muscle discomfort. It was theorized by me that she was
incorrectly trying to close KEGELMASTER by pushing buttocks into bed. This
was not the case and she was getting Kegel response. She quit using
KEGELMASTER before the end of the first 30 day period. Theory is that with
rearrangement of pelvic floor muscles, attachments were altered, and this
sacral muscle discomfort was from anatomical adjustment.)
Inconvenience: 5 (These people reported they were unable to block out a
time for the daily regimen, although upon entering the study, had agreed to
do so. Repeated follow-up calls to gain compliance in this area were
unsuccessful.
30 Day Reported Results:
(18 participants made the 30 day mark. 1 person is still in the initial 30
day period) 100% of reportedly compliant subjects stated they'd gone from
constant urine leaking, occasional urine leaking , or stress incontinence at
least 3 times/day down to once a day or less. Pad/diaper usage in these
subjects declined from 3-5/day to 0-1/day. One subject (as previously noted)
dropped the study due to discomfort during this timeframe, 3 dropped for
stated reason of inconvenience.
60 Day Reported Results:
Two more persons reported that they were no longer using KEGELMASTER as they
"did not have time" and felt they no longer needed the exercise as
their incontinence issues seemed to be resolved.(14 Participants passed the
60 day mark. 2 are still in that time period)
90 Day Reported Results:
The 8 women who have passed the 90 day mark have reported no further bladder
or bowel incontinence with 4-5x/week use of KEGELMASTER. Some of these women
have opted to attempt a taper to find a maintenance level at which there are
no "accidents". 6 women will be at the 90 day mark by the end of
November. All 6 of those also report "no more urine or stool
leaks".
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