Electrostimulation of the posterior tibial nerve in treatment of urinary incontinence/O uso da eletroestimulacao no nervo tibial posterior no tratamento da incontinencia urinaria/Uso de la electroestimulacion en el nervio tibial posterior en el tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria

The aim of this study was to evaluate electrostimulation of the posterior tibial nerve in treating urgency or mixed urinary incontinence. This quasi-experimental study of eight patients with a diagnosis of urgency or mixed urinary incontinence, was conducted in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, in 2010. The assessment included a physical therapy evaluation form, bladder diary and King's Health Quality of Life Questionnaire. Twelve 30-minutes procedures of electro-stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve were performed. The results show reduced frequency of daytime urinary incontinence in 62% of the patients, decreased nocturnal urinary frequency in 37.5%, and reduction of urinary leakage from severe to moderate and moderate to mild. No significant difference in quality of life questionnaire scores was observed after treatment. It was concluded that the method studied had positive impact on patients' involuntary urine loss and the amount of urine lost.