University of Edinburgh School of Medicine, Edinburgh, UK.
Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Neurourol Urodyn. 2021 Jan;40(1):310-318. doi: 10.1002/nau.24560. Epub 2020 Nov 2.
Treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) includes pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). There is limited data appraising the characteristics of PFMT devices. We aimed to ascertain the primary use, strengths and weaknesses of PFMT devices available online, through evaluation of consumer reviews.
We performed an analysis of PFMT devices on Amazon.com. Four key device categories were recognized. Reviews from the five most frequently-reviewed products per category were analyzed (n = 20). W characterized device use, strengths and weaknesses using thematic analysis.
We evaluated 2574 PFMT device reviews including 1168 vibrating Kegel balls, 750 non-vibrating Kegel balls, 411 pelvic floor or thigh exercisers, and 245 electric probes. Non-vibrating Kegel balls were rated highest (4.6/5 stars), followed by vibrating Kegel balls, electric probes and pelvic floor or thigh exercisers (4.4/5, 4.1/5, and 3.8/5 stars, respectively). Most reviews were positive (77%) or negative (16%) with few neutral (7%). While all were marketed to treat UI, most reviews did not mention the intended use. Vibrating and non-vibrating Kegel balls and electric probes were most likely to be used for UI, and pelvic floor or thigh exercisers for toning. Some used non-vibrating and vibrating Kegel balls for sexual function. Electric probes were the most beneficial device for incontinence control (27%, 67/245). Twenty-five percent of all product reviews praised device ease of use and good quality or design. A minority of reviewers found products difficult to use, of poor quality or design and uncomfortable.
Consumers utilized online PFMT devices for multiple purposes, including UI, toning and sexual function. Reviewers generally praised PFMT products, particularly electric probes for UI.
治疗尿失禁（UI）包括骨盆底肌肉训练（PFMT）。评估 PFMT 设备特点的数据有限。我们旨在通过评估消费者的评价，确定网上可用的 PFMT 设备的主要用途、优缺点。
我们在 Amazon.com 上对 PFMT 设备进行了分析。识别出四个关键设备类别。分析了每个类别中评价最高的五种产品的评价（n=20）。我们使用主题分析方法描述设备用途、优缺点。
我们评估了 2574 个 PFMT 设备评价，包括 1168 个振动 kegel 球、750 个非振动 kegel 球、411 个骨盆底或大腿运动器和 245 个电动探头。非振动 kegel 球的评分最高（4.6/5 星），其次是振动 kegel 球、电动探头和骨盆底或大腿运动器（4.4/5、4.1/5 和 3.8/5 星）。大多数评价是正面的（77%）或负面的（16%），少数是中立的（7%）。虽然所有产品都被宣传为治疗 UI，但大多数评价并未提及预期用途。振动和非振动 kegel 球和电动探头最有可能用于 UI，而骨盆底或大腿运动器则用于塑形。一些人使用非振动和振动 kegel 球来改善性功能。电动探头是最有益于控制失禁的设备（27%，67/245）。25%的产品评价赞扬了设备的易用性和良好的质量或设计。少数评论者发现产品难以使用、质量差或设计不佳且不舒服。
消费者将在线 PFMT 设备用于多种用途，包括 UI、塑形和性功能。评论者普遍赞扬了 PFMT 产品，特别是电动探头对 UI 的治疗效果。
