ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) and core stability exercises (CSE) in reducing urinary incontinence and improving quality of life among women with cervical cancer. Methods: This is a randomised comparative study. Eighty women with cervical cancer experiencing urinary incontinence were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups: PFME and CSE. Urinary incontinence severity was assessed using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), and objective urine leakage was measured using the one-hour pad test. Health-related quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L). Statistical analysis was conducted using repeated-measures ANOVA and independent t-tests.Results: Both groups demonstrated improvement in urinary incontinence outcomes. In the PFME group, the mean ICIQ-UI SF score decreased from 13.00 ± 2.48 at baseline to 8.95 ± 1.85 at 8 weeks, while pad test values decreased from 43.9 ± 9.29 g to 37.8 ± 2.56 g. In the CSE group, ICIQ-UI SF scores decreased from 13.50 ± 2.76 to 11.00 ± 2.93, and pad test values decreased from 38.95 ± 10.91 g to 31.35 ± 5.78 g. Between-group comparison revealed greater improvement in the PFME group. Improvements in health-related quality of life were also observed, particularly in pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression domains. Conclusion: PFME and CSE enhance urinary incontinence in cervical cancer patients, with pelvic floor training showing better results. Integrating pelvic floor rehabilitation into supportive care can reduce urinary symptoms and enhance quality of life for cervical cancer survivors. Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Urinary Incontinence, Pelvic Floor Muscle Training, Core Stability Exercises, Quality of Life
Publication date: 01/11/2026

https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/November/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10591.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.11.10591