A Multimodal Rehabilitation Approach to Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the involuntary loss of urine, which affects physical activity levels and quality of life. The multidimensional etiology of SUI requires a systematic examination and intervention plan beyond the pelvic floor (PF), including the thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and hip. Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy is not well established in PF rehabilitation, but it may augment the benefits of hip-strengthening programs to address SUI. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient is a 54-year-old woman diagnosed with SUI. She also reported right hip and right sacral pain. She received interventions sequentially addressing impairments in the PF, hip, pelvis, and thorax that contributed to her SUI. She received BFR therapy to improve strength and endurance in the PF, hip, and pelvic region. OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP: SUI, PF strength, urinary urgency, and hip pain improved with PF and musculoskeletal-based interventions. SUI symptoms significantly improved at discharge after completing BFR therapy treatment. DISCUSSION: SUI is influenced by impairments of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis, especially in the athletic population. BFR therapy may be beneficial for patients with functional PF weakness. JOSPT Cases 2026;6(1):39-49. Epub 3 December 2025. doi:10.2519/josptcases.2025.0137