Objective
To investigate the clinical effects on detrusor overactivity of a new method of transcutaneous reciprocal electrical stimulation of the thigh muscles.
Patients and methods
Nineteen patients with detrusor overactivity, comprising 14 with detrusor hyper‐reflexia (DH) and five with idiopathic detrusor instability (IDI), were studied. Electrical stimulation was applied alternately to the quadriceps and hamstring muscles of one or both legs through surface electrodes for 20 min. The treatment was given once a day for 14 days and then the patients were evaluated urodynamically.
Results
All 19 patients tolerated the therapy well and none reported any adverse effects. The mean maximum cystometric capacity increased significantly (P<0.05) after treatment. In 11 of the 19 patients, the maximum cystometric capacity was increased by >50% of the pretreatment value; this occurred in eight of 14 of those with DH and in three of five of those with IDI. In six of the 11 who responded in this way, there was a clinical improvement in their urinary incontinence and frequency for several weeks to 3 months after the period of therapy. A second 14‐day treatment was also effective in all four patients who underwent a repeat trial.
Conclusion
This method of transcutaneous electrical stimulation can inhibit DH as well as IDI with no adverse effects. The suppressive effect on detrusor overactivity may persist for several months and repeat trials appear to be effective. Thus, we believe that this new stimulation technique should be tried as an alternative to other types of electrical stimulation and augmentation cystoplasty.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.