Effect of Kegel Exercise Combined with a Therapeutic Apparatus for Electromyographic Feedback on Bladder Function in Patients with Bladder Injury during Rehabilitation

Objective: To explore the effect of Kegel exercise combined with a therapeutic apparatus for electromyographic feedback on bladder function in patients with bladder injury during rehabilitation. Methods: The clinical data of 156 patients with bladder injury admitted to Wuxi Medical Center of Nanjing Medical University in the past 2 years were selected for retrospective analysis. The patients were divided into the reference group (RG, Kegel exercise, n = 83) and the study group (SG, Kegel exercise combined with a therapeutic apparatus for electromyographic feedback, n = 73) in accordance with different rehabilitation programmes. The urination conditions and urodynamic indices of the SG and RG after intervention were compared, and patients' mood states were evaluated with the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Results: Compared with the RG, the SG had overtly lower bladder residual urine volume, daily urination frequency, detrusor pressure at the end of the filling period and detrusor leak-point pressure (all p < 0.001); Obviously higher urinary volume at each time and maximum bladder volume (all p < 0.001) and distinctly lower hospital anxiety and depression scale-anxiety (HADS-A) and hospital anxiety and depression scale-depression (HADS-D) scores after treatment (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: The application of Kegel exercise combined with a therapeutic apparatus for electromyographic feedback during the rehabilitation of patients with bladder injury can effectively improve the urination conditions, bladder function and mood states of the patients. Moreover, it can guarantee the return to normal life of the patients and improve their quality of life.