The Relationship Between Urinary Incontinence and Motor Symptoms in Patients with Stroke

Year 2025, Volume: 32 Issue: 4, 291 - 298, 01.12.2025

Pınar Yaşar , Mehmet Duray , Süleyman Kutluhan , Vedat Ali Yürekli

https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1723093

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between post-stroke urinary incontinence and the severity of spasticity, balance, and gait performance.
Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 46 patients with stroke. The Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) was used to determine the functional status of the participants. A 24-hour pad test was performed to assess urinary incontinence, and the Danish Prostate Symptom Score (DANN-PSS) was utilized to evaluate urinary function. Spasticity, as one of the motor symptoms, was assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), while balance and gait were evaluated through the Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment.
Results: The mean age of patients with urinary incontinence was significantly higher than that of those without incontinence (p<0.05). When comparing balance and gait performance between groups, the balance scores of the incontinent group were found to be significantly lower (p<0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed in gait scores (p>0.05). According to the Tinetti test results, both the balance and total scores were significantly lower in the group with urinary incontinence (p<0.05).
Conclusion: While urinary incontinence in post-stroke patients was not associated with spasticity, it was negatively associated with balance and, to a lesser extent, walking performance. These findings suggest that UI may contribute to functional dependence by indirectly affecting motor functions.

Keywords

Stroke , urinary incontinence , spasticity , balance , gait

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University (Date: 16.11.2021, Protocol No: 72867572-050.01.04-320). Informed consent forms were obtained from the participants in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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