App-based yoga intervention shows promise for urinary incontinence

The application-based Yoga of Immortals (YOI) intervention appears to produce marked improvements in frequency and severity of urinary leak, as well as daily life activity, in patients with urinary incontinence (UI), a study has shown.

Researchers sent a survey to 422 YOI app subscribers aged 18–74 years, of which 258 were included in the analysis. These participants had self-reported UI.

The participants completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF; for mean symptom score and severity of UI) and the ICIQ Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life (ICIQ-LUTS-QOL; for the impact of UI on QOL) questionnaires at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks. Global impression of improvement was evaluated using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale.

Mean scores on the ICIQ-UI-SF decreased significantly from 4.06 at baseline to 2.90 at week 4 (p≤0.001) and 3.44 at week 8 (p≤0.001). Similarly, mean ICIQ-LUTS-QOL score dropped from 28.36 at baseline to 24.46 week 4 (p≤0.001) and 25.78 at week 8 (p≤0.001).

Of note, patients in the 55–60 years age subgroup showed significant improvements in mean scores on ICIQ-LUTS-QOL, decreasing from 25.06 at baseline to 21.69 at week 4 (p≤ 0.01) and 22.28 at week 8 (p≤0.01).

Most of the participants reported that they felt 'very much better' on the PGI-scale.

The present data show that YOI—which combines specific yogic postures, breathing exercises, sound therapy, and meditation—represents an easy-to-use intervention in the management of urinary incontinence. It has the added advantage of the ability to be performed anytime and anywhere, with the intervention being app-based.