What is the primary goal of pelvic floor muscle training in managing stress urinary incontinence?

• A. Improve urethral support and continence by strengthening the pelvic floor.
• B. Increase bladder capacity.
• C. Reduce detrusor overactivity.
• D. Worsen sphincter function.

Answer: (A)

Strengthening the pelvic floor directly builds support for the urethra and bladder neck, which is what leaks during activities that raise pressure (like coughing or lifting). When the pelvic floor muscles are stronger and better coordinated, they provide a firmer barrier and help maintain urethral closure when intra-abdominal pressure increases, reducing leakage. This is the core reason pelvic floor muscle training helps with stress urinary incontinence.

Bladder capacity and detrusor activity aren’t the primary issues in stress incontinence, which is why increasing capacity or reducing detrusor overactivity aren’t the goals of this training. Worsening sphincter function would be counterproductive and isn’t what PFMT does.