Effect of functional continuous magnetic stimulation for urinary incontinence

Purpose: We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of continuous magnetic stimu lation on urinary incontinence by studying the urodynamic effect on urethra l closure and bladder inhibition. Materials and Methods: A total of 11 patients with stress incontinence and 12 with urge incontinence (7 males and 16 females, mean age 55.8 years) wer e evaluated. Tn the pilot study urethral pressure profile was performed bef ore and after 20 Hz. 15-minute (with 1-minute on/30-second off cycles) stim ulation, and maximum intraurethral pressure was recorded during stimulation in stress incontinence cases. Cystometry was performed before and during 1 5-minute stimulation at 10 Hz. in urge incontinence cases. In the therapeut ic study 8 females with stress incontinence, and 3 males and 5 females with urge incontinence were treated with magnetic stimulation twice a week for 5 weeks. Results: In the pilot study maximum intraurethral pressure increased by 34% during stimulation and maximum urethral closure pressure increased by 20.9 % (p = 0.0409) after stimulation in stress incontinence cases, In urge inco ntinence cases significant increases in bladder capacities at first and max imum desire to void during stimulation were noted (p = 0.0164 and 0.0208, r espectively). In the therapeutic study 86% of 7 patients with stress incont inence and 75% of 8 with urge incontinence were improved, and 1 dropped out of the study. Conclusions: Continuous magnetic stimulation was effective on urethral clos ure and bladder inhibition, and as treatment of urinary incontinence.