Comparing two different low‐intensity shockwave therapy frequency protocols for nonbacterial chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A two‐arm, parallel‐group randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Despite encouraging results, the optimal low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiST) protocol in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) remains unknown. We conducted a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial aiming to compare the efficacy and safety of six LiST sessions applied once or twice weekly.Methods: Fifty patients with CP/CPPS type IIIb were randomly assigned to six LiST sessions once (Group A, n = 25) or twice weekly (Group B, n = 25). Both groups followed the same treatment protocol in terms of LiST application, impulses (5000/ session), energy flux density (0.096 mJ/mm 2 ) and frequency (5 Hz). Subsequently, all participants were evaluated at 1 and 3 months after completion of LiST protocol.Results: At the follow-up evaluations, LiST significantly improved the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) total, pain and quality of life scores, as well as the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Domain (IIEF-ED) in both groups (p < .001 for all measures). Comparing between the two groups, no significant differences were demonstrated in the NIH-CPSI total, pain, urinary and quality of life scores, as well as in the International Prostate Symptom Score, IIEF-ED, and LiST-induced pain at both follow-up evaluations. Accordingly, no adverse events and no dropouts were observed in both groups. Conclusion:Six sessions of LiST applied once weekly for 6 weeks or twice weekly for 3 weeks seem to be equally safe and effective in patients with CP/CPPS. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary, since LiST gradually gains its place for the management of CP/CPPS.

The Effect of Low-Intensity Shock Wave Therapy on Moderate Erectile Dysfunction: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…More specifically, 2,000 impulses were delivered to the corpora cavernosa, 2,000 to the crura cavernosa and 1,000 to the penile hila based on a protocol developed by our research team. 12–14…”

The use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy along with other non-drug methods in the treatment of chronic prostatitis from the standpoint of modern evidence-based medicine

“…Также I. Mykoniatis и соавт. (2021) [27] провели РКИ для сравнения эффективности и безопасности 6 сеансов низкоинтенсивной ЭУВТ (ARIES 2 и Smart Focus probe, Dornier MedTech GmbH, Германия) у 50 па -…”

“…Через 1 и 3 мес после курса лечения ЭУВТ значительно улучшились показатели по опросникам NIH-CPSI, IPSS, МИЭФ-5 в обеих группах (р <0,001). При сравнении эффективности лечения ЭУВТ статистически значимой разницы между двумя группами не зафиксировано [27].…”