Different transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation pathways in the treatment of mixed urinary incontinence in women: an experimental study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2026.51.17215Keywords:
urinary incontinence, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, quality of life, women, electric stimulation therapyAbstract
Objective: To verify and compare the effects of transcutaneous tibial nerve electrical stimulation (TTNS) combined with Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT) versus parasacral transcutaneous electrical stimulation (PTES) combined with PFMT in women with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Method: A longitudinal experimental study was performed, with pre- and post-treatment assessments. Forty women with MUI were divided into a Tibial Group: TTNS + PFMT and a Parasacral Group: PTES + PFMT. The treatment was performed twice a week, totaling 12 sessions. The electrical stimulation parameters used were: frequency: 10Hz, pulse duration: 700µs, intensity: according to sensitivity, and duration: 20 minutes. PFMT was performed in four positions (sitting, lying down, standing, and on all fours) immediately after the electrical stimulation. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations were conducted using a clinical history form, the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), which investigates pelvic floor discomfort, the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), which assesses quality of life related to urinary incontinence, and the PERFECT scheme, which assesses pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function. In the statistical analysis, ANOVA for repeated measures was applied to verify the effects of treatments, time points, and interactions on the investigated variables, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The groups demonstrated significant improvements in PFDI 20, KHQ, and PERFECT when comparing pre- and post-treatment time points, with no significant difference between treatments. Conclusion: Treatment with electrical stimulation combined with PFMT promotes improvement in MUI regardless of the application site, leading to enhanced quality of life and PFM function.
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