Comparison between two different neuromuscular electrical stimulation protocols for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is widely treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) but there is no consensus in literature regarding the most effective treatment parameters. OBJECTIVE To compare two NMESintra-vaginal protocols for the treatment of SUI in women. METHODS The study included 20 volunteers with an average age of 55.55±6.51 years and with the clinical diagnosis of SUI. Volunteers were randomly divided into two groups: group 1 (G1) received NMES with medium-frequency current and group 2 (G2) received NMES with low-frequency current. Functional assessments of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) were performed by perineometry. The severity of signs and symptoms were objectively evaluated using the 1 hour pad test and subjectively evaluated using a visual analog scale that measured the discomfort caused by the SUI. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to analyze data normality, and the Friedman test was used to analyze nonparametric data. For analysis of symptoms related to SUI the Fisher exact test and the Mann-Whitney test were used. Significance level of 5% was set for all data analysis. RESULTS No significant differences (p>0.05) were found between groups for any of the variable assessed. The within group analysis of initial and final evaluations (after NMES) demonstrated significant differences (p<0.05) in amount of urine lost, the discomfort caused by urinary incontinence and perineal pressure for both treatment groups. CONCLUSION The two NMES protocols applied were equally effective in the treatment of SUI.