Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation and Biofeedback Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Effects on Urinary Frequency and Quality of Life in Young Women with Overactive Bladder

Background & Objective:  The over active bladder syndrome is one of the women ‘s health problem that it usually accompanied by frequency and nocturia  with or without urgency urinary incontinency.The aim of the study was to compare the effect of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation with biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training on quality of life and frequency of urination in young women with overactive bladder.  Materials & Methods:  In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, ۶۰ females aged ۱۸ to ۴۵ years with overactive bladder were randomly divided into two equal groups. The first group underwent biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training plus Kegel exercises three times a week for twelve sessions. The second group underwent percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation plus Kegel exercises, performed three times a week for twelve sessions using a two-channel stimulator with device. The frequency of daily urination was the primary outcome. Quality of life, severity of overactive bladder symptoms, severity of urinary incontinence symptoms, frequency of nocturnal urination, and urgency were secondary outcomes. The criterion for the rate of success was <۰.۰۵. Results: In comparison between groups, a statistically significant difference was observed in the number of daily urinations, nocturnal urinations, and urgency, in favor of the percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation group (p<۰.۰۱). Meanwhile, in terms of urinary incontinence, this advantage was in favor of the biofeedback group (p<۰.۰۱). No significant difference was observed in terms of quality of life and severity of overactive bladder symptoms between the two groups. Conclusion: Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation and biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training are two minimally invasive, easy, and cost-effective methods that can reduce the frequency of urination and increase the quality of life, and probably reduce the risk of surgery in these patients.

Keywords:

Overactive bladder , Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation , Biofeedback , Pelvic floor muscle exercises