Electrical Stimulation of the Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve for Treating Urinary Incontinence Due to Neurogenic Hyperactive Bladder in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

This study evaluates the therapeutic effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) of the posterior tibial nerve, for treating urinary incontinence (UI) due to detrusor overactivity (DO) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Five volunteers having positive cutaneous plantar reflexes and intact innervation of the anterior tibial participated in the study. Individuals with a positive Babinski reflex were excluded. We applied 10 sessions of TENS currents (20 Hz, 200 milliseconds, tetrapolar), over a period of 5 weeks (2 sessions per week). The treatment was monitored through a Urogynecology Physiotherapeutic Assessment Questionnaire and by a Voiding Log. We observed a reduction in the average frequency of miction, as well as decreased nocturia; also, the urge incontinence symptoms in the treated patients were cleared up.