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Förstl N, Adler I, Süß F, Dendorfer S. Technologies for Evaluation of Pelvic Floor Functionality: A Systematic Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:4001. [PMID: 38931784 PMCID: PMC11207910 DOI: 10.3390/s24124001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common problem in women and has a negative impact on their quality of life. The aim of this review was to provide a general overview of the current state of technology used to assess pelvic floor functionality. It also provides literature research of the physiological and anatomical factors that correlate with pelvic floor health. This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and IEEE databases were searched for publications on sensor technology for the assessment of pelvic floor functionality. Anatomical and physiological parameters were identified through a manual search. In the systematic review, 114 publications were included. Twelve different sensor technologies were identified. Information on the obtained parameters, sensor position, test activities, and subject characteristics was prepared in tabular form from each publication. A total of 16 anatomical and physiological parameters influencing pelvic floor health were identified in 17 published studies and ranked for their statistical significance. Taken together, this review could serve as a basis for the development of novel sensors which could allow for quantifiable prevention and diagnosis, as well as particularized documentation of rehabilitation processes related to pelvic floor dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Förstl
- OTH Regensburg—Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Seybothstraße 2, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (I.A.); (S.D.)
| | - Ina Adler
- OTH Regensburg—Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Seybothstraße 2, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (I.A.); (S.D.)
| | - Franz Süß
- OTH Regensburg—Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Seybothstraße 2, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (I.A.); (S.D.)
| | - Sebastian Dendorfer
- OTH Regensburg—Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg, Seybothstraße 2, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (I.A.); (S.D.)
- RCBE—Regensburg Center of Biomedical Engineering, Seybothstraße 2, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Hwang UJ, Lee MS, Kwon OY. Effect of pelvic floor muscle electrical stimulation on lumbopelvic control in women with stress urinary incontinence: randomized controlled trial. Physiother Theory Pract 2023; 39:2077-2086. [PMID: 35437109 DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2067508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) plays a role not only in lumbopelvic stabilization, but also in incontinence and sexual function. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of PFM training by electrical stimulation (ES) on urinary incontinence, PFM performance (i.e. strength and power), lumbopelvic control, and abdominal muscle thickness in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS Participants were randomized into ES and control groups. The ES group underwent PFM ES for 8 weeks, whereas the control group underwent only a walking program. The impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life was assessed by the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ)-7. PFM strength and power were measured using a perineometer. Lumbopelvic control was measured by one and double-leg-lowering tests. Abdominal muscle thickness was measured by sonography. RESULTS The ES group showed significantly improved IIQ-7 scores and PFM performance, and had significantly higher values in both one and double-leg lowering tests (p < .05) after 8 weeks of training, indicating significant improvement from pre-session values (p < .005). There were no significant between- or within-group differences at rest in abdominal muscle thickness. CONCLUSION PFM ES could improve lumbopelvic control and PFM performance, and reduce subjective symptoms of urinary incontinence in women with SUI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ui-Jae Hwang
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Kangwon-Do, South Korea
| | - Min-Seok Lee
- Sophie-Marceau Women's Clinic, 2395, Dalgubeol-daero, Suseong-gu, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Oh-Yun Kwon
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, Kangwon-Do, South Korea
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Yao H, Zhang X, Sun F, Tang G, Wu J, Zhou Z. The efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) in treating female with urinary incontinence symptom from meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials. Front Neurol 2022; 13:933679. [PMID: 36176556 PMCID: PMC9514856 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.933679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundUrinary incontinence (UI) is a common disease in the middle-aged and elderly women, and physical therapy has gradually become the mainstream treatment of UI. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) in the treatment of UI.MethodsFrom January 2006 to December 2021, we finally selected nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 657 participants from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases to evaluate the efficacy of IVES in the treatment of female UI. Continuous data were represented by mean difference and 95% CI, while dichotomous data were represented by odds ratio and 95% CI. All the data were analyzed by the Review Manager Version 5.4.ResultsCompared with the control group, there were significant improvements in urine pad test (P = 0.01), urinary incontinence frequency (P = 0.04), some indicators in the incontinence quality of life questionnaire and King's health questionnaires, and subjective feeling of cure (P = 0.009) in the IVES group. However, in other indicators reflecting UI, there was no significant difference between the IVES group and the control group. In addition, subgroup analysis showed that IVES and IVES combined with training could significantly reduce the weight of the urine pad, which reflected the improvement of urine leakage.ConclusionThis meta-analysis proved that IVES can partially improve the symptoms of female patients with UI compared with the control group. However, it still needs to be further evaluated through more high-quality research in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huibao Yao
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Xiaofei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Fengze Sun
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Gonglin Tang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Jitao Wu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
- Jitao Wu
| | - Zhongbao Zhou
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
- Department of Urology, Beijing TianTan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zhongbao Zhou
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Todhunter-Brown A, Hazelton C, Campbell P, Elders A, Hagen S, McClurg D. Conservative interventions for treating urinary incontinence in women: an Overview of Cochrane systematic reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 9:CD012337. [PMID: 36053030 PMCID: PMC9437962 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012337.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntary loss of urine and can be caused by several different conditions. The common types of UI are stress (SUI), urgency (UUI) and mixed (MUI). A wide range of interventions can be delivered to reduce the symptoms of UI in women. Conservative interventions are generally recommended as the first line of treatment. OBJECTIVES To summarise Cochrane Reviews that assessed the effects of conservative interventions for treating UI in women. METHODS We searched the Cochrane Library to January 2021 (CDSR; 2021, Issue 1) and included any Cochrane Review that included studies with women aged 18 years or older with a clinical diagnosis of SUI, UUI or MUI, and investigating a conservative intervention aimed at improving or curing UI. We included reviews that compared a conservative intervention with 'control' (which included placebo, no treatment or usual care), another conservative intervention or another active, but non-conservative, intervention. A stakeholder group informed the selection and synthesis of evidence. Two overview authors independently applied the inclusion criteria, extracted data and judged review quality, resolving disagreements through discussion. Primary outcomes of interest were patient-reported cure or improvement and condition-specific quality of life. We judged the risk of bias in included reviews using the ROBIS tool. We judged the certainty of evidence within the reviews based on the GRADE approach. Evidence relating to SUI, UUI or all types of UI combined (AUI) were synthesised separately. The AUI group included evidence relating to participants with MUI, as well as from studies that combined women with different diagnoses (i.e. SUI, UUI and MUI) and studies in which the type of UI was unclear. MAIN RESULTS We included 29 relevant Cochrane Reviews. Seven focused on physical therapies; five on education, behavioural and lifestyle advice; one on mechanical devices; one on acupuncture and one on yoga. Fourteen focused on non-conservative interventions but had a comparison with a conservative intervention. No reviews synthesised evidence relating to psychological therapies. There were 112 unique trials (including 8975 women) that had primary outcome data included in at least one analysis. Stress urinary incontinence (14 reviews) Conservative intervention versus control: there was moderate or high certainty evidence that pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), PFMT plus biofeedback and cones were more beneficial than control for curing or improving UI. PFMT and intravaginal devices improved quality of life compared to control. One conservative intervention versus another conservative intervention: for cure and improvement of UI, there was moderate or high certainty evidence that: continence pessary plus PFMT was more beneficial than continence pessary alone; PFMT plus educational intervention was more beneficial than cones; more-intensive PFMT was more beneficial than less-intensive PFMT; and PFMT plus an adherence strategy was more beneficial than PFMT alone. There was no moderate or high certainty evidence for quality of life. Urgency urinary incontinence (five reviews) Conservative intervention versus control: there was moderate to high-certainty evidence demonstrating that PFMT plus feedback, PFMT plus biofeedback, electrical stimulation and bladder training were more beneficial than control for curing or improving UI. Women using electrical stimulation plus PFMT had higher quality of life than women in the control group. One conservative intervention versus another conservative intervention: for cure or improvement, there was moderate certainty evidence that electrical stimulation was more effective than laseropuncture. There was high or moderate certainty evidence that PFMT resulted in higher quality of life than electrical stimulation and electrical stimulation plus PFMT resulted in better cure or improvement and higher quality of life than PFMT alone. All types of urinary incontinence (13 reviews) Conservative intervention versus control: there was moderate to high certainty evidence of better cure or improvement with PFMT, electrical stimulation, weight loss and cones compared to control. There was moderate certainty evidence of improved quality of life with PFMT compared to control. One conservative intervention versus another conservative intervention: there was moderate or high certainty evidence of better cure or improvement for PFMT with bladder training than bladder training alone. Likewise, PFMT with more individual health professional supervision was more effective than less contact/supervision and more-intensive PFMT was more beneficial than less-intensive PFMT. There was moderate certainty evidence that PFMT plus bladder training resulted in higher quality of life than bladder training alone. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is high certainty that PFMT is more beneficial than control for all types of UI for outcomes of cure or improvement and quality of life. We are moderately certain that, if PFMT is more intense, more frequent, with individual supervision, with/without combined with behavioural interventions with/without an adherence strategy, effectiveness is improved. We are highly certain that, for cure or improvement, cones are more beneficial than control (but not PFMT) for women with SUI, electrical stimulation is beneficial for women with UUI, and weight loss results in more cure and improvement than control for women with AUI. Most evidence within the included Cochrane Reviews is of low certainty. It is important that future new and updated Cochrane Reviews develop questions that are more clinically useful, avoid multiple overlapping reviews and consult women with UI to further identify outcomes of importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Todhunter-Brown
- Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Christine Hazelton
- Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Pauline Campbell
- Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew Elders
- Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Suzanne Hagen
- Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Doreen McClurg
- Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
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Sahin UK, Acaröz S, Çirakoğlu A, Benli E, Akbayrak T. Effects of external electrical stimulation added to pelvic floor muscle training in women with stress urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled study. Neurourol Urodyn 2022; 41:1781-1792. [PMID: 35979703 DOI: 10.1002/nau.25022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study, the combination of external electrical stimulation (EES) with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) was assessed to determine if it yielded better results than PFMT or EES alone for treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). STUDY DESIGN Fifty-one women with SUI were randomly allocated to EES + PFMT (n = 17), PFMT (n = 17), or EES groups (n = 17) for 8 weeks of treatment. Personal, demographic, and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. Outcome measures included self-reported improvement, severity of incontinence, symptom distress, quality of life (QOL), urinary incontinence episodes, pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS) and endurance (PFME) and dysfunction. All evaluations were made pre- and posttreatment. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square, marginal homogeneity, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon signed-rank or paired t test and Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc tests. RESULTS In the 8th week, there were significant changes in self-reported improvement, severity of incontinence, symptom distress score, urinary incontinence episodes, PFMS, PFME, pelvic floor dysfunction and all areas of QoL in all groups (p < 0.05). Combined therapy was not superior to PFMT and EES for overall outcome measures, except for the incontinence impact subdomain of the QoL score (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our study supports the idea that PFMT should be preferred as the first line therapy for women with SUI. However, the acceptable EES method can be recommended in addition to PFMT to increase motivation and treatment compliance in patients with insufficient or inaccurate pelvic floor muscle contractions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulku Kezban Sahin
- Department of Therapy and Rehabilitation, Vocational School of Health Services, Giresun University, Giresun, Turkey
| | - Sevim Acaröz
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Abdullah Çirakoğlu
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Erdal Benli
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Türkan Akbayrak
- Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Stania M, Niemiec B, Kamieniarz A, Chmielewska D. Intravaginal electrical stimulation as a monotherapy for female stress urinary incontinence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2022; 49:101624. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Home-based transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder syndrome: a randomized, controlled study. Int Urol Nephrol 2022; 54:1825-1835. [PMID: 35622269 PMCID: PMC9137441 DOI: 10.1007/s11255-022-03235-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (TPTNS) for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB), with or without urge urinary incontinence (UUI) using electrodes imbedded in the fabric of a conventional sock and an attachable battery-operated stimulation device (ZIDA®—Exodus Innovations, Sufa, Israel), was compared for effectiveness and safety to a sham procedure in a prospective, blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Methods Forty patients with diagnosed with OAB were recruited from a single site. There were two groups: a treatment group (21 patients, mean age 64), which used an active ZIDA® activation device (ZIDA) and a sham control group (SCG, 19 patients, mean age 72) randomized in a 1:1 ratio. After individual fitting of the sock and face-to-face instruction in the use of the device, patients in both groups self-administered the treatment once weekly for 30 min at home for a duration of 12 weeks. Prior to randomization and in Week 12, patients completed two 3-day bladder diaries and a quality-of-life (QOL) survey. Treatment success was defined as at least a 50% reduction in urgency voids with or without incontinence or at least a 30% reduction in 24-h frequency from baseline to Week 12. The key secondary endpoint was change in QOL from baseline to Week 12. Results The success rate for the primary endpoint in the ZIDA group was 80% (n = 16/20) versus 39% (n = 7/18) in the SCG (p = 0.02). For QOL, the least squares mean difference in change from baseline to Week 12 between the ZIDA and sham control arms total score was − 12.7 (95% CI − 20.2 to − 5.1). No significant adverse effects were observed. Conclusion TPTNS using the ZIDA home-based stimulation device offers a safe and effective treatment for patients with OAB syndrome and improves QOL. Trial regestration TRN: NCT04470765.
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Ali MU, Fong KNK, Kannan P, Bello UM, Kranz GS. Effects of nonsurgical, minimally or noninvasive therapies for urinary incontinence due to neurogenic bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2022; 13:20406223211063059. [PMID: 35321402 PMCID: PMC8935404 DOI: 10.1177/20406223211063059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To determine the effects of nonsurgical, minimally or noninvasive therapies on urge urinary incontinence (UUI) symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with neurogenic bladder (NGB). Data Sources: Cochrane library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PEDro, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to September 2021. Review Methods: Randomized controlled trials that compared therapies such as intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS), pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), and behavioural therapy (BT) to control were included. Study screening, data extraction, and study quality assessments were performed by two independent authors. Results: Fourteen trials with 804 participants were included in the study after screening of 4281 potentially relevant articles. Meta-analyses revealed a significant effect of electrical stimulation on UUI due to multiple sclerosis (standardized mean difference (SMD): −0.614; 95% confidence interval (CI): −1.023, −0.206; p = 0.003) and stroke (SMD: −2.639; 95% CI: −3.804, −1.474; p = 0.000). The pooled analyses of TTNS (weighted mean difference (WMD): −12.406; 95% CI: −16.015, −8.797; p = 0.000) and BT (WMD: −9.117; 95% CI: −14.746, −3.487; p = 0.002) revealed significant effects of these interventions on QoL in people with Parkinson’s disease. However, meta-analyses revealed nonsignificant effects for PFMT (WMD: −0.751; 95% CI: −2.426, 0.924; p = 0.380) and BT (WMD: −0.597; 95% CI: −1.278, 0.083; p = 0.085) on UUI due to Parkinson’s disease. Conclusions: Our meta-analyses found electrical stimulation to be beneficial for improving the symptoms of UUI among people with multiple sclerosis and those with stroke. Our review also revealed that TTNS and BT might improve QoL for people with NGB due to Parkinson’s disease, although the effects of PFMT and BT on UUI warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Usman Ali
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Department of Medical Rehabilitation (Physiotherapy), University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Kenneth Nai-Kuen Fong
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Priya Kannan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Umar Muhammad Bello
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) Limited, Hong Kong, China; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Department of Physiotherapy, Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, Damaturu, Nigeria
| | - Georg S. Kranz
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Min L, Chunxue Y, Qiubo L, Xudong D, Yan Z, Guifang Z, Kejia H, Tianzi G, Qing F. Effectiveness of intravaginal electrical stimulation combined with electromyography biofeedback-mediated pelvic floor muscle training for postpartum symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse: protocol for the PROSPECT randomized trial. Trials 2022; 23:131. [PMID: 35139910 PMCID: PMC8826656 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06051-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is seen in up to 30-70% of women presenting for routine gynecology care and 10% of women suffering from bothersome POP symptoms. Vaginal childbirth is one of the most prominent contributing factors for POP. Pelvic muscle training (PFMT) is considered effective to improve mild to moderate POP symptoms. In addition, higher-intensity, supervised PFMT aided by biofeedback and electrical stimulation may confer greater benefit. However, the long-term efficacy of the PFMT combined with electromyography biofeedback is unknown, which indicates the need for further evidence. METHODS This multicenter randomized controlled trial compares the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of conventional PFMT versus biofeedback-mediated PFMT plus neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for postpartum symptomatic POP women. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with the improvement of at least one POP-Q stage at 36 months after randomization. The primary economic outcome measure is incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year at 36 months. Two hundred seventy-four women from four outpatient medical centers are randomized and followed up with pelvic floor examination, questionnaires, and pelvic ultrasonography imaging. All participants are arranged for three appointments over 12 weeks. NMES and electromyography biofeedback via intravaginal probe are added to PFMT for participants in the biofeedback-mediated PFMT group. Group allocation could not be blinded from participants and healthcare staff that deliver intervention but remain masked from medical staff that carry out PFM assessment. An intention-to-treat analysis of the primary outcome will estimate the difference of the proportion of POP-Q stage improvement between the trial groups right after the intervention, and during the follow-up until 36 months, using the chi-square test and multilevel mixed models respectively. A logistic regression analysis was used for adjusting for important baseline variables that are unbalanced. DISCUSSION The trial results will provide evidence of the effectiveness of electromyography biofeedback-mediated PFMT in improving women's POP-Q staging, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. TRIAL REGISTRATION CCTR Registry ChiCTR210002171917 . Registered on March 6, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Min
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 1 Dahua Road, Dongdan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yang Chunxue
- Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Lv Qiubo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 1 Dahua Road, Dongdan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Dong Xudong
- Department of Obstetrics, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhang Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Chaoyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Beijing, 100026, China
| | - Zhang Guifang
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hu Kejia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Shunyi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Beijing, 101300, China
| | - Gai Tianzi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 1 Dahua Road, Dongdan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Feng Qing
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 1 Dahua Road, Dongdan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
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Effect of a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program for Community Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Retrospect Cohort Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9121686. [PMID: 34946412 PMCID: PMC8701398 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9121686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common problem affecting older adult women globally, but studies regarding combined treatments for all types of UI are still lacking. Here we evaluate the efficacy of a comprehensive rehabilitation program for women with UI. A comprehensive rehabilitation program was introduced that combines pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercises, functional electrical stimulation, and timely biofeedback during the training process. Data of patients with stress (SUI), urgency (UUI), or mixed (MUI) urinary incontinence who participated in this program between 2016 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Seventy-three subjects (mean age 59.2 ± 12.7 years) were enrolled. After 12 weeks of rehabilitation, vaginal pressure and control accuracy increased in all groups. PFM maximum recruitment increased significantly at week 12 in SUI and UUI, but not in MUI. At week 6, only the SUI group had achieved significant improvements in vaginal pressure, PFM maximum recruitment and control accuracy. The Short-form Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7) scores declined dramatically after the program started, and significant improvements were maintained to week 48. The comprehensive rehabilitation program is effective and decreases urinary leakage episodes and improves quality of life in women with UI, especially SUI.
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Kim HW, Lee JZ, Lee SD, Park Y, Lee H, Yoon J, Seo S, Shin DG. Effectiveness of transperineal pelvic floor electrical stimulation system in improving female stress urinary incontinence: a prospective pilot study. J INCL PHENOM MACRO 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10847-021-01052-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Han X, Shen H, Chen J, Wu Y. Efficacy and safety of electrical stimulation for stress urinary incontinence in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J 2021; 33:789-799. [PMID: 34402934 DOI: 10.1007/s00192-021-04928-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed at investigating the safety and short- and long-term efficacy of electrical stimulation (ES) in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted up to 2020. Studies comparing ES with sham ES or no intervention were included. Standardized mean differences (SMDs), weighted mean differences (WMDs), relative risks (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS This study included 9 RCTs, involving a total of 982 patients, of whom 520 received ES. Our results showed that in the short term (< 3 months), compared with sham ES or no intervention, ES significantly improved incontinence-specific quality of life (IQOL) (p = 0.003; SMD = 0.90 [95% CI, 0.30 to 1.50]; I2 = 88%) and reduced urine leakage (p < 0.00001; WMD = -6.15 [95% CI, -8.29 to -4.01]; I2 = 0%) but did not significantly reduce the frequency of incontinence episodes (p = 0.34; WMD = -0.98 [95% CI, -2.99 to 1.04]; I2 = 85%). In the long term (3-7.5 months), ES significantly improved IQOL (p = 0.0009; SMD = 1.14 [95% CI, 0.47 to 1.81]; I2 = 91%) and reduced the frequency of incontinence episodes (p = 0.0009; WMD = -2.45 [95% CI, -3.90 to -1.01]; I2 = 79%) but did not significantly reduce urine leakage (p = 0.27; WMD = -9.21 [95% CI, -25.57 to 7.14]; I2 = 71%). There was no significant difference in adverse events between ES and sham ES or no intervention (p = 0.36; RR = 1.34 [95% CI, 0.72 to 2.50]; I2 = 0%). A test for subgroup differences showed that electroacupuncture (EA) improved long-term IQOL to a greater extent than vaginal ES (VES), whereas there was no significant difference in efficacy between EA and VES in short- or long-term reduction of urine leakage, frequency of incontinence episodes, or short-term IQOL improvement. CONCLUSIONS ES may improve short- and long-term IQOL for women with SUI, but it appears to provide only short-term reduction in urine leakage and long-term reduction in frequency of incontinence episodes. However, we cannot draw any conclusion on the safety between ES and sham ES or no intervention because of the rarity of adverse events. It is still uncertain whether EA is comparable or superior to VES owing to an insufficient number of studies and patients. The conclusions should be considered carefully because of the limited quality and quantity of the RCTs included. Further rigorous RCTs with adequate sample sizes and long follow-up are necessary to fully validate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Han
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haiyue Shen
- Department of Acupuncture, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiming Chen
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, No.68 Gehu Road, Wujin District, Changzhou, 213000, China.
| | - Yi Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200040, China.
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The Effect of Electrical Stimulation Therapy With Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise on Stress Urinary Incontinence in Middle-Aged Women: A Nonequivalent Comparison Cohort Study. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 2021; 48:325-331. [PMID: 34186551 DOI: 10.1097/won.0000000000000776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of combined pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs) and a novel electrical stimulation (ES) device versus PFMEs alone on lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary incontinence-related quality of life, and pelvic floor muscle contractions (PFMCs). DESIGN Nonrandomized comparison cohort study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING The sample comprised 54 community-dwelling middle-aged women with stress urinary incontinence recruited from churches and cultural centers in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Comparisons of demographic and pertinent clinical characteristics revealed no significant differences between the experimental and comparison groups. METHODS Participants allocated to the combined intervention group (n = 27) performed self-exercises of the pelvic floor muscles 3 times a day under weekly telephone coaching, and they used the ES device twice daily for 8 weeks. Participants in the comparison group (n = 27) received the PFMEs alone without telephone coaching. The 3 main outcomes including lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary incontinence-related quality of life, and PFMCs were measured using the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom instrument (BFLUTS), King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), and a perineometer, respectively. Study outcomes were measured at baseline and at the end of the 8-week period. RESULTS Participants in the experimental group achieved significantly greater reductions in lower urinary tract symptoms (t = -4.07, P < .001) and improvement in urinary incontinence-related quality of life (P = .006), peak PFMC pressure (P = .004), mean pelvic muscle contraction (PMC) pressure (P < .001), and duration of PFMCs (P < .001) when compared to participants undergoing PFMEs alone. CONCLUSIONS Combined ES and pelvic floor exercise was more effective in reducing severity of lower urinary tract symptoms, enhancing health-related quality of life, and increasing PMC pressure in middle-aged women with stress urinary incontinence than PFMEs alone.
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Sun K, Zhang D, Wu G, Wang T, Wu J, Ren H, Cui Y. Efficacy of magnetic stimulation for female stress urinary incontinence: a meta-analysis. Ther Adv Urol 2021; 13:17562872211032485. [PMID: 34345251 PMCID: PMC8283222 DOI: 10.1177/17562872211032485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of magnetic stimulation (MS) in treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and providing an alternative treatment for patients who are unwilling to undergo surgery. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated MS as a remedy for female SUI were retrieved from various electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trial Registry system. Moreover, reference lists for related papers were carefully screened for relevant studies. Results: A total of six RCTs evaluating the effect of MS in treating female SUI were included in this study. Compared with the placebo group, the MS group exhibited higher quality-of-life scores [mean difference (MD) 0.59, 95% credibility interval (CI) 0.23–0.95; p = 0.001] and lower International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire scores (MD −3.93, 95% CI −5.85 to −2.01; p < 0.0001). Moreover, they exhibited a higher objective cure rate (odds ratio 8.49, 95% CI 3.08–23.37). In addition, MS treatment reduced the number of episodes of urinary incontinence (MD −1.42, 95% CI −2.24 to −0.59; p = 0.0007) and urine loss on pad test (MD −4.67, 95% CI −8.05 to −1.28; p = 0.007). There were no significant treatment-related adverse reactions. Conclusion: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of MS in the treatment of female SUI. The results have important implications for patients who do not wish to undergo surgical therapy. We found that MS treatment for SUI has positive outcomes, however, future studies should aim at establishing the best protocol for optimizing the therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Sun
- Urology Department, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Dongxu Zhang
- Urology Department, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Gang Wu
- Urology Department, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Tianqi Wang
- Urology Department, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - JiTao Wu
- Urology Department, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Hongxu Ren
- Operation Department, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 20 East Yuhuangding Road, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China
| | - Yuanshan Cui
- Urology Department, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 20 East Yuhuangding Road, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China
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Targeted neuromodulation of pelvic floor nerves in aging and multiparous rabbits improves continence. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10615. [PMID: 34011938 PMCID: PMC8136474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90088-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pelvic floor muscle stretch injury during pregnancy and birth is associated with the incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), a condition that affects 30-60% of the female population and is characterized by involuntary urine leakage during physical activity, further exacerbated by aging. Aging and multiparous rabbits suffer pelvic nerve and muscle damage, resulting in alterations in pelvic floor muscular contraction and low urethral pressure, resembling SUI. However, the extent of nerve injury is not fully understood. Here, we used electron microscopy analysis of pelvic and perineal nerves in multiparous rabbits to describe the extent of stretch nerve injury based on axon count, axon size, myelin-to-axon ratio, and elliptical ratio. Compared to young nulliparous controls, mid-age multiparous animals showed an increase in the density of unmyelinated axons and in myelin thickness in both nerves, albeit more significant in the bulbospongiosus nerve. This revealed a partial but sustained damage to these nerves, and the presence of some regenerated axons. Additionally, we tested whether electrical stimulation of the bulbospongiosus nerve would induce muscle contraction and urethral closure. Using a miniature wireless stimulator implanted on this perineal nerve in young nulliparous and middle age multiparous female rabbits, we confirmed that these partially damaged nerves can be acutely depolarized, either at low (2-5 Hz) or medium (10-20 Hz) frequencies, to induce a proportional increase in urethral pressure. Evaluation of micturition volume in the mid-age multiparous animals after perineal nerve stimulation, effectively reversed a baseline deficit, increasing it 2-fold (p = 0.02). These results support the notion that selective neuromodulation of pelvic floor muscles might serve as a potential treatment for SUI.
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Takahashi S, Takei M, Asakura H, Gotoh M, Ishizuka O, Kato K, Koyama M, Takeyama M, Tomoe H, Yamanishi T, Yokoyama O, Yoshida M, Yoshimura Y, Yoshizawa T. Clinical Guidelines for Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (second edition). Int J Urol 2021; 28:474-492. [PMID: 33650242 DOI: 10.1111/iju.14492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The present article is an abridged English translation of the Japanese Clinical Guidelines for Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (second edition), published in September 2019. These guidelines consist of a total of 212 pages and are unique worldwide in that they cover female lower urinary tract symptoms other than urinary incontinence. They contain two algorithms for "primary treatment" and "specialized treatment," respectively. These guidelines, consisting of six chapters, address a total of 26 clinical questions including: (i) treatment algorithms; (ii) what are female lower urinary tract symptoms?; (iii) epidemiology and quality of life; (iv) pathology and illness; (v) diagnosis; and (vi) treatment. When the patient's symptoms mainly involve voiding and post-micturition symptoms, specialized treatment should be considered. In the event of voiding symptoms concurrent with storage symptoms, residual urine should be measured; if the residual urine volume is <100 mL, then diagnosis and treatment for storage symptoms is prioritized, and if the volume is ≥100 mL, then specialized treatment should be considered. When storage symptoms are the primary condition, then the patient is subject to the primary treatment algorithm. Specialized treatment for refractory overactive bladder includes botulinum toxin injection and sacral nerve stimulation. For stress urinary incontinence, surgical treatment is indicated, such as urethral slings. The two causes of voiding symptoms and post-micturition symptoms are lower urinary tract obstruction and detrusor underactivity (underactive bladder). Mechanical lower urinary tract obstruction, such as pelvic organ prolapse, is expected to improve with surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Takahashi
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mineo Takei
- Department of Urology, Harasanshin Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Momokazu Gotoh
- Department of Urology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Osamu Ishizuka
- Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Kumiko Kato
- Department of Female Urology, Japanese Red Cross Nagoya First Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masayasu Koyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masami Takeyama
- Urogynecology Center, First Towakai Hospital, Takatsuki, Japan
| | - Hikaru Tomoe
- Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Medical Center East, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomonori Yamanishi
- Department of Urology, Continence Center, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Osamu Yokoyama
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Masaki Yoshida
- Department of Urology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Yasukuni Yoshimura
- Female Pelvic Health Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa
- Department of Urology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Hwang UJ, Lee MS, Jung SH, Ahn SH, Kwon OY. Effect of pelvic floor electrical stimulation on diaphragm excursion and rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing in women with stress urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e24158. [PMID: 33429797 PMCID: PMC7793445 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000024158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) is associated with respiratory function. We investigated the effects of PFM training by pelvic floor electrical stimulation (PFES) on PFM strength, diaphragm excursion, and upper rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS In total, 33 participants with SUI were divided into PFES and control groups. The two groups were measured pre- and post-8 weeks of training. Diaphragm excursion and upper rib cage movement during tidal and forceful breathing and coughing and PFM strength were measured using sonography, electromagnetic sensors, and perineometry. RESULTS There were significant difference of main effect between pre- and post-training and between groups in PFM strength (between groups: P = .001, between time: P < .001) and diaphragm excursion during forceful breathing (between groups: P = .015, between time: P = .026) and coughing (between groups: P = .035, between time: P = .006). There were significant differences in diaphragm excursion during tidal (P = .002) and forceful breathing (P = .005) and coughing (P < .001) between pre- and post-training in the PFES group. Elevation of the upper rib cage during tidal (P < .001) and forceful breathing (P = .001) was significantly decreased after 8 weeks of training in the PFES group. Widening in the horizontal plane in the upper rib cage during forceful breathing (P < .001) was significantly increased after 8 weeks of training in the PFES group. PFM strength (P < .001) was significantly increased after 8 weeks of training in the PFES group. CONCLUSIONS Pelvic floor muscles training by electrical stimulation can improve diaphragm excursion and breathing patterns in women with SUI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ui-jae Hwang
- 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Wonju, Kangwon-Do, 220–710, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju
| | | | - Sung-hoon Jung
- 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Wonju, Kangwon-Do, 220–710, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju
| | - Sun-hee Ahn
- 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Wonju, Kangwon-Do, 220–710, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju
| | - Oh-yun Kwon
- 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Wonju, Kangwon-Do, 220–710, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea
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Javanbakht M, Mashayekhi A, Monga A, Atkinson J, Branagan-Harris M. Economic analysis of Electrical Muscle Stimulator with Multipath technology for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence: a UK-based cost-utility analysis. J Med Econ 2020; 23:1004-1015. [PMID: 32468884 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2020.1776298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a debilitating and highly prevalent condition in the UK. The condition is associated with a significant economic burden for affected patients and society. Current treatment options for SUI include minimally invasive therapies, medication and surgical intervention for the most serious cases. Electrical Muscle Stimulator with Multipath technology is a recently developed device for the treatment of SUI that relies on neuromuscular external electrical stimulation (NEES) technology. The clinical efficacy of the device has been proven in previous studies, but existing evidence surrounding its economic viability is limited.Objectives: To assess the cost-utility of the Electrical Muscle Stimulator with Multipath technology Therapy device for the treatment of SUI amongst women in a UK setting.Methods: An economic model was developed to consider the cost-utility (cost per quality-adjusted life-year [QALY] gained) of Electrical Muscle Stimulator with Multipath technology compared with current practice. A Markov model was developed, with costs and health effects estimated over the lifetime of the patient in the base-case analysis. The model was developed to reflect the treatment pathways typically followed by patients with SUI in the UK. Parameter uncertainty was explored in deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.Results: Base-case results indicate that Electrical Muscle Stimulator with Multipath technology results in cost savings and QALY gains over the patient's lifetime. In the "cure" analysis, the intervention is £250 less costly and leads to a 0.03 QALY gain per patient, while in the "improvement analysis", the intervention is £327 less costly and leads to a 0.13 QALY gain per patient. Results from the probabilistic sensitivity analyses show that the likelihood of Electrical Muscle Stimulator with Multipath technology being cost-effective is greater than 74% across all willingness-to-pay thresholds in the two analyses presented.Conclusions: Electrical Muscle Stimulator with Multipath technology is a potentially cost-effective treatment option for patients with SUI who have failed first-line treatment. It could reduce costs to the health care service and improve quality-of-life for selected patients over their lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Javanbakht
- Optimax Access UK Ltd, Southampton, UK
- Device Access UK Ltd, Southampton, UK
| | - Atefeh Mashayekhi
- Optimax Access UK Ltd, Southampton, UK
- Device Access UK Ltd, Southampton, UK
| | - Ash Monga
- University Hospitals Southampton Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
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Effects of surface electrical stimulation during sitting on pelvic floor muscle function and sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2020; 63:370-378. [PMID: 32489983 PMCID: PMC7231947 DOI: 10.5468/ogs.2020.63.3.370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) is associated with sexual dysfunction in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The EasyK7 device was developed to stimulate the PFM by surface electrical stimulation during sitting (SESdS). We investigated the effects of SESdS on PFM function and sexual function in women with SUI. Methods Women with SUI were randomized into the SESdS and control groups. PFM function and sexual function were assessed using a perineometer and the pelvic organ prolapse–urinary incontinence sexual function questionnaire (PISQ), respectively. After 8 weeks, the groups were compared using either analysis of covariance with the baseline values as covariates or the paired Student's t-test. Results The final analysis included 16 subjects from each group. There were significant differences between the SESdS and control groups after the intervention, as well as within the SESdS group between the pre- and post-intervention measurements. The P-values for the differences in PFM measurements between the groups, and between the pre- and post- intervention measurements within the SESdS group, were 0.001 and 0.004 for power, 0.015 and 0.011 for strength, and 0.012 and 0.034 for endurance, respectively. In addition, in the PISQ, there were significant differences between the groups and between the pre- and post-intervention measurements within the SESdS group in the partner-related domain (between groups: P=0.003; within SESdS group: P=0.024) and total score (between groups: P<0.001; within SESdS group: P=0.001). Conclusion SESdS can improve PFM function and sexual function in women with SUI. Trial Registration Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0003357
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Urinary Incontinence in Women: Modern Methods of Physiotherapy as a Support for Surgical Treatment or Independent Therapy. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9041211. [PMID: 32340194 PMCID: PMC7230757 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9041211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common health problem affecting quality of life of nearly 420 million people, both women and men. Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training and other physiotherapy techniques play an important role in non-surgical UI treatment, but their therapeutic effectiveness is limited to slight or moderate severity of UI. Higher UI severity requires surgical procedures with pre- and post-operative physiotherapy. Given that nearly 30%–40% of women without dysfunction and about 70% with pelvic floor dysfunction are unable to perform a correct PFM contraction, therefore, it is particularly important to implement physiotherapeutic techniques aimed at early activation of PFM. Presently, UI physiotherapy focuses primarily on PFM therapy and its proper cooperation with synergistic muscles, the respiratory diaphragm, and correction of improper everyday habits for better pelvic organ support and continence. The purpose of this work is a systematic review showing the possibilities of using physiotherapeutic techniques in the treatment of UI in women with attention to the techniques of PFM activation. Evidence of the effectiveness of well-known (e.g., PFM training, biofeedback, and electrostimulation) and less-known (e.g., magnetostimulation, vibration training) techniques will be presented here regarding the treatment of symptoms of urinary incontinence in women.
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Li W, Hu Q, Zhang Z, Shen F, Xie Z. Effect of different electrical stimulation protocols for pelvic floor rehabilitation of postpartum women with extremely weak muscle strength: Randomized control trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e19863. [PMID: 32332648 PMCID: PMC7440138 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000019863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy is one of the main risk factor of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Postpartum women with extremely weak muscle strength have difficulty to do voluntary pelvic floor muscle training. This study aims to evaluate the effects of different protocols of electrical stimulation in the treatment of postpartum women with extremely weak muscle strength. METHODS A total of 67 women were randomized into 2 groups: group A received transvaginal electrical stimulation (TVES) for 5 times, and group B received TVES for 3 times with electromyogram (EMG)-triggered neuromuscular stimulation twice. Subjects were evaluated before and after treatment. Pelvic muscle strength was measured by both digital vaginal palpation and EMG variables, and quality of life was investigated by 4 kinds of pelvic floor disease-related questionnaires. RESULTS According to the intention-to-treat principle, compared with baseline, in group A, EMG of contractile amplitude of endurance phase was significantly elevated (P = .03), variation of contractile amplitude in tonic phase was more stable after treatment (P = .004), and EMG of mean value of final rest was significantly elevated after treatment (P = .047). After 5 times treatments, the incidence of correct pelvic floor muscle contraction in group A was significantly elevated (P = .045). No significant difference of muscle strength test by digital vaginal palpation was detected between the 2 groups, so did questionnaires. CONCLUSION For postpartum women with extremely weak muscle strength, TVES for 5 times might be more benefit for control ability of pelvic muscle contractions and elevating muscle strength even in short-time treatment.
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Assessment of the Short-Term Effects after High-Inductive Electromagnetic Stimulation of Pelvic Floor Muscles: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Study. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9030874. [PMID: 32210031 PMCID: PMC7141507 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9030874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Physiotherapy should be performed by patients with stress or mixed urinary incontinence (SUI and MUI) to increase the strength and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs). A method that can positively affect the pelvic floor is stimulation with high-inductive electromagnetic stimulation (HIES). The aim of the study was to evaluate the PFMs after the application of HIES in women with SUI and MUI by using surface electromyography (sEMG). Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, single-blind study with a sham intervention group. The participants were randomly assigned to the HIES group or sham group. The outcomes were features of the bioelectrical PFM activity assessed using sEMG and endovaginal probes. A single-session intervention in the HIES group included 20 min of HIES with an electromagnetic induction intensity of 2.5 T. Results: In the HIES group, there was a statistically significant difference in the PFM sEMG activity during “contractions” (p < 0.001) and “quick flicks” (p = 0.005). In the intergroup comparison, higher PFM sEMG activity after the intervention (“contraction”) was observed in the HIES group than in the sham group (after: p = 0.047; 1 h after: p = 0.017). Conclusions: The assessed HIES method seems effective for SUI and MUI patients in the short term and shows an advantage over the sham intervention in the assessment of PFM contractions.
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Elena S, Dragana Z, Ramina S, Evgeniia A, Orazov M. Electromyographic Evaluation of the Pelvic Muscles Activity After High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Procedure and Electrical Stimulation in Women With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Sex Med 2020; 8:282-289. [PMID: 32146133 PMCID: PMC7261686 DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2020.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Impaired coordination, relaxation, and atrophy of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) may cause various health issues referred to as pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). In recent years, electromagnetic noninvasive stimulation of the pelvic floor was successfully used to treat PFD symptoms. Aim This study aims to compare the effectiveness of electrical and magnetic noninvasive stimulation for the treatment of PFD in postpartum women. Methods 2 intervention groups treated with high-intensity focused electromagnetic ([HIFEM]; G1) procedure and electrical stimulation (G2) were established along with the control group (G3). Patients received 10 therapies delivered at the hospital (G1; 2–3 times per week) or self-administered at home (G2; every other day) after initial training. The protocol was identical for both modalities. Functionality of the PFM was examined by surface electromyography measurements (maximal voluntary contraction [MVC]; mean MVC; muscle activity at rest; endurance of contraction) while patient's subjective perception of pelvic floor functionality was assessed by Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire–Short Form 7 (PFIQ-7) standardized questionnaire. Changes in electromyography values and PFIQ-7 scores were statistically evaluated from baseline to after all treatments. Main Outcome Measure The main outcome measure was enhancement of PFM activity. Results In total, 95 patients (G1 = 50; G2 = 25; G3 = 20) participated in the study. The MVC, mean MVC, and endurance were lowered in symptomatic patients. After the treatments, these parameters significantly increased (P < .001) and moved toward the values of healthy population. Electrogenesis at relaxation revealed divergent tendencies in the G1 and G2 groups. PFIQ-7 scores significantly improved in treated patients (P < .001). In general, superior results were documented in the HIFEM group as it reached improvement of electromyography parameters from 48% to 59% (electrical stimulation from 7% to 36%) and similarly the improvement of PFIQ-7 score by 57% (electrical stimulation by 32%). Conclusion This study documented that the HIFEM procedure was significantly more effective than electrical stimulation in treatment of PFD in postpartum women. Both the objective and subjective evaluation indicates more profound effects of magnetic stimulation. Elena S, Dragana Z, Ramina S, et al. Electromyographic Evaluation of the Pelvic Muscles Activity After High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Procedure and Electrical Stimulation in Women With Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Sex Med 2020;8:282–289.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zarkovic Dragana
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Department of Anatomy and Biomechanics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Mekan Orazov
- Medical Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, RUDN University, Moscow, Russia
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Hwang UJ, Lee MS, Jung SH, Ahn SH, Kwon OY. Which pelvic floor muscle functions are associated with improved subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of surface electrical stimulation in women with stress urinary incontinence? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 247:16-21. [PMID: 32058185 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as involuntary urine loss during effort, sneezing, or coughing. We investigated which pelvic floor muscle (PFM) functions (muscle strength, power, and endurance) are associated with improvement in subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of surface electrical stimulation (SES) training. This study was performed to determine the effects of SES in the seated position on PFM functions and subjective and objective symptoms, and to identify predictors of improved subjective and objective symptoms after 8 weeks of SES training via secondary analysis of females with SUI. STUDY DESIGN The study was performed between August 2018 and December 2018. Patients with SUI were randomized into an SES group (n = 17) and a control group (n = 17). Both groups were assessed pre-intervention and after 8 weeks of intervention. The outcome measures were PFM functions (strength, power, and endurance) as measured via perineometry, the score on the urogenital distress inventory-6 (UDI-6), and the ultra-short perineal pad test result. RESULTS Significant differences in all PFM functions, the UDI-6 score, and the pad weight were evident both between the groups (SES vs. control group) and within the groups (pre-SES vs. post-SES). On regression of factors predicting relative changes in subjective and objective symptoms, the relative change in PFM power accounted for 15 and 13 % of the variance in the UDI-6 score (P < 0.05) and pad weight (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS SES in a seated position improved both subjective and objective symptoms in females with SUI. PFM power, the UDI-6 score, and the pad weight test result should be considered when developing intervention guidelines to improve the subjective and objective symptoms of females with SUI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ui-Jae Hwang
- 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Kangwon-Do 220-710, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
| | - Min-Seok Lee
- Sophie-Marceau Women's Clinic, Daegu, South Korea.
| | - Sung-Hoon Jung
- 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Kangwon-Do 220-710, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
| | - Sun-Hee Ahn
- 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Kangwon-Do 220-710, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
| | - Oh-Yun Kwon
- 234 Maeji-ri, Heungeop-Myeon, Kangwon-Do 220-710, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea.
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Allon EF. The role of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 28:968-974. [PMID: 31393761 DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2019.28.15.968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common problem, particularly for women. A weakness in the pelvic floor muscles can lead to one or more disorders developing, such as urinary incontinence or a pelvic organ prolapse. To combat this, it is advised that the pelvic floor muscles are exercised to strengthen them and help them become more supportive. However, more than 30% of women are unable to detect their pelvic floor muscles to produce an effective contraction. The introduction of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in pelvic healthcare poses a significant benefit in the rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles.
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Bae S, Lee KW, Jeong HC, Park BH, Bae WJ, Lee YS, Han CH, Kang SH, Kim SW. Effects of low-frequency intravaginal electrical stimulation on female urinary incontinence, quality of life, and urinary symptoms: A pilot study. Low Urin Tract Symptoms 2019; 12:25-32. [PMID: 31595693 DOI: 10.1111/luts.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of a low-frequency home-based incontinence therapy device on quality of life (QoL) and urinary symptoms in women with urinary incontinence. From May 2017 to February 2018, 34 patients, aged ≥ 20 years, with involuntary urine leakage >2 times/week, were recruited to this study. Patients with severe pelvic organ prolapse, pregnancy, virgin status, and psychological problems were excluded. The incontinence home-care device treatments were administered in 12-minute sessions, twice daily for 8 weeks. Simultaneously, hyperthermic conditions of 35°C to 40°C and microvibrations were administered. All patients completed urinary incontinence questionnaires (King's Health Questionnaire [KHQ], Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [BFLUTS] questionnaire, and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score [OABSS]) before treatment, as well as 4 and 8 weeks into treatment. Changes in the questionnaire responses over time were compared. Two participants dropped out of the study and there was one screening failure, leaving 31 patients for analysis. After 4 weeks treatment, there were significant improvements in symptoms, such as role limitation, physical limitation, social limitation, personal relationship, emotion, sleep/energy, and severity measures. After 8 weeks treatment, almost all parameters on the KHQ revealed symptomatic improvement. On the BFLUTS, voiding times during activity, nocturia, urgency, urge incontinence, incontinence frequency, stress incontinence, volume leakage, strain to start, intermittency, reduced stream, acute retention, incomplete emptying, and stopping flow showed significant improvements. On the OABSS, almost all storage symptoms improved. Low-frequency electrical stimulation devices were effective at improving urinary incontinence, which became evident as the duration of treatment increased. Improvement of urgency and frequency was more evident after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangrak Bae
- Department of Urology, Uijeongbu St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu Won Lee
- Department of Urology, Seoul St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Cheol Jeong
- Department of Urology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bong Hee Park
- Department of Urology, Uijeongbu St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woong Jin Bae
- Department of Urology, Seoul St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Seok Lee
- Department of Urology, Uijeongbu St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hee Han
- Department of Urology, Uijeongbu St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Hak Kang
- Department of Urology, Uijeongbu St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sae Woong Kim
- Department of Urology, Seoul St.Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Hwang UJ, Lee MS, Jung SH, Ahn SH, Kwon OY. Pelvic Floor Muscle Parameters Affect Sexual Function After 8 Weeks of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence. Sex Med 2019; 7:505-513. [PMID: 31563553 PMCID: PMC6963109 DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2019.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is often associated with female sexual dysfunction. We investigated which pelvic floor muscle (PFM) parameters (strength, power, and endurance) are associated with improvement of sexual function after 8 weeks of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) training. AIM This study was performed to determine the effects of TES in the seated position on PFM parameters and female sexual function and to identify correlation between improved PFM parameters and sexual function after 8 weeks of TES training in women with SUI. METHODS The present study was performed between August 2018 and November 2018 in women with SUI who were randomized into a TES group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 17). One subject in each of the TES and control groups ultimately withdrew during the intervention due to a lack of time. Both groups were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE As outcome measures, PFM parameters (strength, power, and endurance) and female sexual function were assessed using a perineometer and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), respectively. RESULTS The final study population consisted of 32 women with SUI. There were significant differences in PFM strength, power, and endurance and FSFI domain scores (desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction, and total score) in both between-group analyses (TES vs control group) and within-group analyses (pre-TES vs post-TSE). Change in PFM endurance had the highest association with change in total FSFI total score (r = 0.437; P = .006), and change in PFM power had the highest association with change in FSFI satisfaction (r = 0.420; P = .008). CONCLUSION TES in a seated position showed a beneficial effect on sexual function in females with SUI. Consideration of PFM parameters associated with FSFI domain scores may be important when developing intervention guidelines to improve female sexual function. Hwang UJ, Lee MS, Jung SH, et al. Pelvic Floor Muscle Parameters Affect Sexual Function After 8 Weeks of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence. Sex Med 2019;7:505-513.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ui-Jae Hwang
- Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Heungeop-myun, Wonju, South Korea
| | - Min-Seok Lee
- Sophie-Marceau Women's Clinic, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Sung-Hoon Jung
- Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Heungeop-myun, Wonju, South Korea
| | - Sun-Hee Ahn
- Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Heungeop-myun, Wonju, South Korea
| | - Oh-Yun Kwon
- Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Heungeop-myun, Wonju, South Korea.
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Dmochowski R, Lynch CM, Efros M, Cardozo L. External electrical stimulation compared with intravaginal electrical stimulation for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women: A randomized controlled noninferiority trial. Neurourol Urodyn 2019; 38:1834-1843. [DOI: 10.1002/nau.24066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roger Dmochowski
- Department of Urologic SurgeryVanderbilt University Nashville Tennessee
| | - Catherine M. Lynch
- Division of General Obstetrics and GynecologyThe University of South Florida Tampa Florida
| | - Mitchell Efros
- Department of UrologyAccuMed Research Associates Garden City New York
| | - Linda Cardozo
- Department of UrogynaecologyKing's College Hospital London United Kingdom
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Samuels JB, Pezzella A, Berenholz J, Alinsod R. Safety and Efficacy of a Non-Invasive High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field (HIFEM) Device for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence and Enhancement of Quality of Life. Lasers Surg Med 2019; 51:760-766. [PMID: 31172580 PMCID: PMC6851770 DOI: 10.1002/lsm.23106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives Urinary incontinence is a common and distressing condition which interferes with everyday life. Patients frequently experience discomfort related to urine leakage and the subsequent need to use absorbent pads. Since the continence mechanism is primarily maintained by a proper function of pelvic floor muscles (PFM), many treatment methods focused on strengthening of the PFM have been introduced in the past. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a high‐intensity focused electromagnetic technology (HIFEM) for treatment of urinary incontinence with emphasis on effects on prospective patients’ quality of life. Study Design/Materials and Methods The study followed an institutional review board approved protocol. A total of 75 women (55.45 ± 12.80 years, 1.85 ± 1.28 deliveries) who showed symptoms of stress, urge, or mixed urinary incontinence were enrolled. They received six HIFEM treatments (2 per week) in duration of 28 minutes. Outcomes were evaluated after the sixth treatment and at the 3‐month follow‐up. The primary outcome was to assess changes in urinary incontinence by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‐Short Form (ICIQ‐SF) and changes in the number of absorbent pads used per day. The secondary outcome was subjective evaluation of the therapy and self‐reported changes in quality of life. The statistical analysis was conducted by paired T‐test and Pearson correlation coefficient (
α = 0.05). Results After the sixth session, 61 out of 75 patients (81.33%) reported significant reduction of their symptoms. The average improvement of 49.93% in ICIQ‐SF score was observed after the sixth treatment, which further increased to 64.42% at the follow‐up (both P < 0.001). Individually, the highest level of improvement was reached in patients suffering from mixed urinary incontinence (69.90%). The reduction of absorbent pads averaged 43.80% after the sixth treatment and 53.68% at 3 months (both P < 0.001), while almost 70% of patients (30 out of 43) reported decreased number of used pads. At the follow‐up, a highly significant medium correlation (r = 0.53, P < 0.001) was found between the ICIQ‐SF score improvement and the reduction in pad usage. A substantial decrease in the frequency of urine leakage triggers was documented. Patients reported no pain, downtime or adverse events, and also reported additional beneficial effects of the therapy such as increased sexual desire and better urination control. Conclusions This study demonstrated that HIFEM technology is able to safely and effectively treat a wide range of patients suffering from urinary incontinence. After six treatments, an improvement in ICIQ‐SF score and reduction in absorbent pads usage was observed. Based on subjective evaluation, these changes positively influenced quality of life. © 2019 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julene B Samuels
- FACS, Louisville, MD9419 Norton Commons Blvd Suite 101, River Bluff, KY, 40059
| | - Andrea Pezzella
- Southern Urogynecology: Center for Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, 115 Midlands Ct, West Columbia, SC, 29169
| | - Joseph Berenholz
- The Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Michigan, 30445 Northwestern Hwy Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI, 48334
| | - Red Alinsod
- South Coast Urogynecology, 31852 Coast Hwy #203, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651
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Electroacupuncture for women with urgency-predominant mixed urinary incontinence: secondary analysis of a randomized noninferiority trial. World J Urol 2019; 38:1035-1042. [DOI: 10.1007/s00345-019-02828-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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Effect of intravaginal vibratory versus electric stimulation on the pelvic floor muscles: A randomized clinical trial. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X 2019; 3:100022. [PMID: 31403114 PMCID: PMC6687376 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurox.2019.100022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction According to the International Urogynecological Association and International Continence Society people with normal pelvic floor muscle function should have the ability to voluntarily and involuntarily contract and relax these muscles. However, many women are unaware of their pelvic floor, and it is estimated that about 30–50% do not know how to actively contract these muscles. Within this context, therapeutic strategies to improve pelvic floor muscle strength and function are particularly relevant. Aims To compare the use of an intravaginal vibratory stimulus (IVVS) versus intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) on pelvic floor muscle functionality in women with pelvic floor dysfunctions who cannot voluntarily contract these muscles. Materials and methods Randomized clinical trial performed at a tertiary care hospital from June 2016 to September 2017. The sample comprised adult women with pelvic floor dysfunction who were unable to contract their pelvic floor muscles voluntarily. Women with latex allergy or other allergies in the pelvic region, vaginal or urinary tract infection, gynecological cancer, significant pain on palpation, or pelvic floor training over the preceding 6 months were excluded. After baseline assessment, women that met the inclusion criteria were randomized to receive once-weekly 20-minute sessions of IVVS or IVES for 6 weeks. Results Twenty-one women were randomly assigned to each group; 18 completed the IVVS and 17 completed the IVES protocols. The IVVS group presented a significant increase in PFM strength in relation to the IVES group (p = 0.026). There was a significant interaction between time and type of intervention for the same variable (p = 0.008) in the IVVS group. Conclusion Both techniques were beneficial, but IVVS was significantly superior to IVES in improving pevic floor muscle strength. Additional studies are warranted to consolidate the utility of IVVS as a treatment modality for pelvic floor dysfunction.
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Peng L, Zeng X, Shen H, Luo DY. Magnetic stimulation for female patients with stress urinary incontinence, a meta-analysis of studies with short-term follow-up. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e15572. [PMID: 31083230 PMCID: PMC6531227 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000015572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine the efficacy of magnetic stimulation (MS) in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by performing a meta-analysis on peer-reviewed randomized controlled trails (RCTs). METHODS PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were retrieved for any peer-reviewed original articles in English. Databases were searched up to July 2018. Included studies investigated effects of MS on SUI. The data were analyzed by review manager 5.3 software (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). RESULTS A total of 4 studies involving 232 patients were identified and included in present meta-analysis. Compared with the sham stimulation, the MS group had statistically significantly fewer leaks/3 days (MD = -1.42; 95%CI: -2.42 to -0.59; P = .007), less urine loss on pad test (g.)/24 h (MD = -4.99; 95%CI: -8.46 to -1.53; P = .005), higher QoL scores (MD = 0.42; 95%CI: 0.02-0.82; P = .009), and lower ICIQ scores (MD = -4.60; 95%CI: -5.02 to -4.19; P < .001). MS presented higher cure or improvement rate, with a statistically significant improvement in UDI and IIQ-SF scores compared to sham stimulation. No MS-related adverse effects were reported in study. CONCLUSION MS leads to an improvement in SUI without any reported safety concerns and an improvement in patient quality of life. The long-term outcome of this technique remains unclear and is the subject of ongoing research.
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A Controlled Clinical Trial on the Effects of Exercise on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Women With Multiple Sclerosis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2019; 98:777-782. [DOI: 10.1097/phm.0000000000001189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Hu M, Hong L, Liu C, Hong S, He S, Zhou M, Huang G, Chen Q. Electrical stimulation enhances neuronal cell activity mediated by Schwann cell derived exosomes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4206. [PMID: 30862846 PMCID: PMC6414536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation (ES) therapy has good effects in patients with nervous system injury-related diseases. ES promotes nerve cell regeneration and stimulates Schwann cells to express neurotrophic factors. The incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) among elderly people is increasing. Some studies suggest that damage to the pudendal nerve is closely related to the pathogenesis of SUI. It has also been found that pelvic ES can reduce SUI symptoms in a rat model of SUI caused by pudendal nerve injury. Clinically, pelvic floor electrical stimulation is effective in patients with mild to moderate SUI. These studies indicate that ES may ameliorate damage to the pudendal nerve and thus achieve the goal of SUI treatment, although the mechanism of action of this treatment remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationships among ES, neural cells and Schwann cells at the cellular level. We applied ES to nerve cells at 100 mV/mm or 200 mV/mm for 0, 0.5, 1, or 2 h to investigate changes in nerve cell activity. We then co-cultured the nerve cells with Schwann cells to explore the influence of single-culture and co-culture conditions on the nerve cells. Compared to non-ES, ES of the nerve cells increased their activity. Compared to those in single culture, co-cultured nerve cells exhibited an additional increase in activity. We also found that Schwann cell derived exosomes could promote the activity of nerve cells, with glutamate and calcium ions playing a potential role in this process. These results suggest that the mutual regulation of neural cells and Schwann cells plays an important role in the process by which ES ameliorates neurological function, which may provide a basis for subsequent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Hu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Li Hong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Cheng Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Shasha Hong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Songming He
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Min Zhou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Guotao Huang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
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Stewart F, Berghmans B, Bø K, Glazener CMA. Electrical stimulation with non-implanted devices for stress urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017; 12:CD012390. [PMID: 29271482 PMCID: PMC6486295 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012390.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several treatment options are available for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), including pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), drug therapy and surgery. Problems exist such as adherence to PFMT regimens, side effects linked to drug therapy and the risks associated with surgery. We have evaluated an alternative treatment, electrical stimulation (ES) with non-implanted devices, which aims to improve pelvic floor muscle function to reduce involuntary urine loss. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of electrical stimulation with non-implanted devices, alone or in combination with other treatment, for managing stress urinary incontinence or stress-predominant mixed urinary incontinence in women. Among the outcomes examined were costs and cost-effectiveness. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Specialised Register, which contains trials identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP and handsearches of journals and conference proceedings (searched 27 February 2017). We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles and undertook separate searches to identify studies examining economic data. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of ES with non-implanted devices compared with any other treatment for SUI in women. Eligible trials included adult women with SUI or stress-predominant mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). We excluded studies of women with urgency-predominant MUI, urgency urinary incontinence only, or incontinence associated with a neurologic condition. We would have included economic evaluations had they been conducted alongside eligible trials. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently screened search results, extracted data from eligible trials and assessed risk of bias, using the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool. We would have performed economic evaluations using the approach recommended by Cochrane Economic Methods. MAIN RESULTS We identified 56 eligible trials (3781 randomised participants). Eighteen trials did not report the primary outcomes of subjective cure, improvement of SUI or incontinence-specific quality of life (QoL). The risk of bias was generally unclear, as most trials provided little detail when reporting their methods. We assessed 25% of the included trials as being at high risk of bias for a variety of reasons, including industry funding and baseline differences between groups. We did not identify any economic evaluations.For subjective cure of SUI, we found moderate-quality evidence that ES is probably better than no active treatment (risk ratio (RR) 2.31, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.02). We found a similar result for cure or improvement of SUI (RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.11), but the quality of evidence was lower. We are very uncertain if there is a difference between ES and sham treatment in terms of subjective cure because of the very low quality of evidence (RR 2.21, 95% CI 0.38 to 12.73). For subjective cure or improvement, ES may be better than sham treatment (RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.02 to 4.07). The effect estimate was 660/1000 women cured/improved with ES compared to 382/1000 with no active treatment (95% CI 538 to 805 women); and for sham treatment, 402/1000 women cured/improved with ES compared to 198/1000 with sham treatment (95% CI 202 to 805 women).Low-quality evidence suggests that there may be no difference in cure or improvement for ES versus PFMT (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.03), PFMT plus ES versus PFMT alone (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.28) or ES versus vaginal cones (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.21).Electrical stimulation probably improves incontinence-specific QoL compared to no treatment (moderate quality evidence) but there may be little or no difference between electrical stimulation and PFMT (low quality evidence). It is uncertain whether adding electrical stimulation to PFMT makes any difference in terms of quality of life, compared with PFMT alone (very low quality evidence). There may be little or no difference between electrical stimulation and vaginal cones in improving incontinence-specific QoL (low quality evidence). The impact of electrical stimulation on subjective cure/improvement and incontinence-specific QoL, compared with vaginal cones, PFMT plus vaginal cones, or drugs therapy, is uncertain (very low quality evidence).In terms of subjective cure/improvement and incontinence-specific QoL, the available evidence comparing ES versus drug therapy or PFMT plus vaginal cones was very low quality and inconclusive. Similarly, comparisons of different types of ES to each other and of ES plus surgery to surgery are also inconclusive in terms of subjective cure/improvement and incontinence-specific QoL (very low-quality evidence).Adverse effects were rare: in total nine of the women treated with ES in the trials reported an adverse effect. We identified insufficient evidence to compare the risk of adverse effects in women treated with ES compared to any other treatment. We were unable to identify any economic data. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The current evidence base indicated that electrical stimulation is probably more effective than no active or sham treatment, but it is not possible to say whether ES is similar to PFMT or other active treatments in effectiveness or not. Overall, the quality of the evidence was too low to provide reliable results. Without sufficiently powered trials measuring clinically important outcomes, such as subjective assessment of urinary incontinence, we cannot draw robust conclusions about the overall effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of electrical stimulation for stress urinary incontinence in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Stewart
- Newcastle Universityc/o Cochrane Incontinence Group, Institute of Health & SocietyBaddiley‐Clarke BuildingRichardson RoadNewcastle Upon TyneEnglandUKNE2 4AX
| | - Bary Berghmans
- Maastricht University Medical CentrePelvic Care Center MaastrichtPO Box 5800MaastrichtNetherlands6202 az
| | - Kari Bø
- Norwegian School of Sport SciencesDepartment of Sports MedicineOsloNorway
| | - Cathryn MA Glazener
- University of AberdeenHealth Services Research Unit3rd Floor, Health Sciences BuildingForesterhillAberdeenScotlandUKAB25 2ZD
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Rodrigues MP, Paiva LL, Ramos JGL, Ferla L. Vibratory perineal stimulation for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: a systematic review. Int Urogynecol J 2017; 29:555-562. [PMID: 28812109 DOI: 10.1007/s00192-017-3444-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS The pelvic floor muscles (PFM) play an important part in the urinary continence mechanism. Changes in their structure and functionality may lead to a predisposition to pelvic floor dysfunction such as urinary incontinence (UI), which is the involuntary loss of urine. Some techniques for conservative treatment of UI are already well documented. However, new approaches have been found that require scientific proof of their effectiveness, such as vibratory stimulation (VS). Thus, we performed a systematic review of studies that investigated the use of perineal VS (PVS) for the treatment of stress UI. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study followed the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration for systematic reviews. Studies that used PVS for the treatment of female UI were eligible. RESULTS A total of 56 studies were found, of which ten were duplicates and were excluded. Analysis of the titles and abstracts led to the exclusion of 30 studies, leaving 16 for detailed analysis. Of these, only three were included as they fulfilled all the eligibility criteria previously established for the present study. In spite of the heterogeneity of the protocols, all the studies had the goal of assessing the effects of vibration on the PFM, and the stimulation was found to be effective in reducing urinary leakage, improving muscle strength and consequently the patients' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Because of the heterogeneity and the small number of studies, it is not possible to draw a conclusion as to the effectiveness of PVS for the treatment of stress UI, and further studies are needed to provide scientific support for its use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Petter Rodrigues
- Health Sciences: Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University, Rua Fiorentina, 265, Três Figueiras II, Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luciana Laureano Paiva
- School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Federal University, Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - José Geraldo Lopes Ramos
- Health Sciences: Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University, Rua Fiorentina, 265, Três Figueiras II, Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Lia Ferla
- Health Sciences: Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University, Rua Fiorentina, 265, Três Figueiras II, Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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Min J, Li B, Liu C, Hong S, Tang J, Hu M, Liu Y, Li S, Hong L. Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Electrical Stimulation in Female Stress Urinary Incontinence. Urology 2017; 104:45-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Bladder Control Problems in Elders. TOPICS IN GERIATRIC REHABILITATION 2016. [DOI: 10.1097/tgr.0000000000000118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Effects of a new community-based reproductive health intervention on knowledge of and attitudes and behaviors toward stress urinary incontinence among young women in Shanghai: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Int Urogynecol J 2015; 27:545-53. [DOI: 10.1007/s00192-015-2851-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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