Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation Effective at Treating Urinary Incontinence

Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) is a clinically effective treatment for overactive bladder symptoms, according to a study published in Urogynecology.

Researchers assessed the efficacy of TTNS versus placebo in reducing symptom burden in ambulatory women with urgency urinary incontinence. They conducted a double-masked, sham-controlled randomized study comprised of 100 participants. The population of interest consisted of 65 individuals who received TTNS and 35 who received placebo. The primary end point was defined as the the change in Overactive Bladder Questionnaire scores. Secondary outcomes included participants with 50% or greater reduction in urgency incontinence episodes.

According to the results, both groups experienced clinically meaningful improvement in Overactive Bladder Questionnaire scores post-intervention. In the TTNS group, almost 60% of women achieved 50% or greater reduction in urgency incontinence episodes versus 41.7% of women in the placebo arm (P = 0.2), and 25% versus 18% were “much” or “very much improved” (P = 0.2).

“Clinically meaningful reductions in overactive bladder symptoms were observed in both TTNS and sham therapy without significant differences between groups; however, a trend toward greater reduction in incontinence episodes and overall impression of improvement was noted in the active treatment. The therapeutic benefit from regularly connecting with a clinician should be considered when developing new therapies,” the researchers concluded.