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

Background Despite encouraging results, the optimal low‐intensity shockwave therapy (LiST) protocol in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) remains unknown. We conducted a two‐arm, parallel‐group, randomized controlled trial aiming to compare the efficacy and safety of six LiST sessions applied once or twice weekly. Methods Fifty patients with CP/CPPS type IIIb were randomly assigned to six LiST sessions once (Group A, n = 25) or twice weekly (Group B, n = 25). Both groups followed the same treatment protocol in terms of LiST application, impulses (5000/session), energy flux density (0.096 mJ/mm2) and frequency (5 Hz). Subsequently, all participants were evaluated at 1 and 3 months after completion of LiST protocol. Results At the follow‐up evaluations, LiST significantly improved the National Institutes of Health‐Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH‐CPSI) total, pain and quality of life scores, as well as the International Index of Erectile Function–Erectile Domain (IIEF‐ED) in both groups (p