The 3rd Sino-French Pelvic Floor Salon, themed Integrating Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in the Treatment of Female Urinary Incontinence, was held on October 15, 2026. Hosted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and co-organised by the Gynecological Pelvic Floor Group of Shanghai Medical Association’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch, the event brought together experts from China and France to explore advances in the integrated management of female urinary incontinence.

This salon focused on the clinical challenges of overactive bladder (OAB) and urgency urinary incontinence, two conditions that can significantly affect women's quality of life. Experts in pelvic floor rehabilitation and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture exchanged clinical experience and explored opportunities to combine different therapeutic approaches to improve patient care.

The salon was chaired by Dr Wu Qingkai, head of the hospital’s Comprehensive Prevention and Treatment Center for Female Pelvic Floor Diseases. Vice President Li Yuehua and Teng Yincheng, Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, attended the event and delivered opening remarks.

On behalf of the hospital and the department, respectively, Vice President Li and Director Teng welcomed the French experts and participating colleagues. They highlighted the department’s more than 20 years of experience in pelvic floor rehabilitation and emphasised the potential of integrating traditional Chinese and Western medicine to address complex clinical challenges in female pelvic floor disorders. They also expressed their hope that the salon would foster further clinical collaboration and help advance pelvic floor rehabilitation services in Shanghai to benefit more women.

Sino-French Dialogue: Combining International Expertise with Local Practice

The academic session featured presentations on physical therapy, acupuncture and integrated treatment strategies for female urinary incontinence.

Professor Loïc Dabbadie, a French expert in pelvic floor rehabilitation and physical therapy for female urinary incontinence, delivered a presentation entitled Physical Therapy for Female Urinary Incontinence. Drawing on his clinical experience, he shared practical approaches to pelvic floor rehabilitation, with particular emphasis on the management of OAB and urgency urinary incontinence.

Dr Li Zhihao from the hospital’s Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Traumatology then presented Acupuncture Treatment for Urinary Incontinence. He introduced the department’s specialised sacral long-needle acupuncture technique and discussed the role of acupuncture in pelvic floor rehabilitation and the management of urinary symptoms, highlighting the potential contribution of TCM to an integrated treatment approach.

The session also featured a clinical case presentation by Dr Fan Hongjie from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In her presentation, Case Sharing: Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment for Urinary Incontinence, she illustrated how the hospital’s Female Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation and Acupuncture Integrated Clinic combines modern physical rehabilitation techniques with traditional acupuncture in clinical practice.

Expert Discussions: Advancing Multidisciplinary Collaboration

The salon concluded with an expert discussion chaired by Dr Wu Qingkai. Professor Wang Jianjun, Professor Qi Yan and Professor Zhang Rui joined the discussion, sharing their perspectives on the challenges of treating urinary incontinence, practical experience in operating the integrated clinic, and opportunities for future multidisciplinary collaboration. The exchange provided a valuable opportunity for participants to discuss clinical practice, share experience and explore ways to further improve the management of female pelvic floor disorders.

Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital has continued to develop its expertise in pelvic floor rehabilitation through clinical innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration. In 2024, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Traumatology jointly established the Female Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation and Acupuncture Integrated Clinic, offering patients an integrated approach to treatment. The department has also contributed to the development of domestic standards for pelvic floor rehabilitation through its involvement in a key project under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The successful conclusion of the 3rd Sino-French Pelvic Floor Salon marks another step in strengthening academic exchange between Chinese and French experts and advancing the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Looking ahead, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital will continue to promote clinical innovation, strengthen domestic and international collaboration, and improve the quality of pelvic floor rehabilitation services, with the aim of providing more effective and comprehensive care for women.