Although the clinical history of urinary incontinence may be
nonspecific, it is often valuable. Most patients with stress
incontinence symptoms have true stress urinary incontinence, and
many persons with symptoms of urgency or urge urinary
incontinence have detrusor instability (12 - 15). Likewise, the
physical examination may help identify the cause of urinary
incontinence. The goals of physical examination also include
identifying other medical conditions, such as reversible factors
that may trigger or contribute to urinary incontinence, and
assessing pelvic floor deficits that may warrant surgical
correction. No studies were identified that directly assessed
the utility of physical examination in the evaluation of urinary
incontinence. However, several studies have identified
reversible causes of urinary incontinence as a result of
evaluations that included a physical examination. In one study
evaluating the cause of urinary incontinence in 100 women
referred to an incontinence clinic (mean age, 74.6 year