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Effects of interferential current stimulation in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a prospective randomized sham-controlled study

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The objective was to investigate the effects of interferential (IF) current stimulation on pelvic floor symptoms, prolapse stages, pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength/endurance, quality of life (QoL), sexual function, perception of subjective improvement (PSI), and satisfaction in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Methods

The patients were randomly divided into the IF (n=13) and sham groups (n=12). Lifestyle advice was given in both groups. Active IF current was applied in the IF group and sham IF was applied in the sham group 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The following tools were used for data evaluation: pelvic floor symptom severity with the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), POP with the simplified POP-quantification system, PFM strength/endurance with a perineometer, QoL with the Prolapse Quality of Life Scale (P-QoL), and sexual function with the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Scale (PISQ-12). Evaluations were made before treatment (BT), mid-term (MT, 4th week), and after treatment (AT). PSI and satisfaction were evaluated AT with Likert-type scales.

Results

In the intergroup comparison AT, a greater increase in PFM strength/endurance, P-QoL-role limitations, P-QoL-sleep/energy scores, PSI, and satisfaction level, and a decrease in cystocele stages were observed in the IF group than in the sham group (p<0.05). Further, there was a greater increase in PFM endurance in the IF group in MT (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Interferential current stimulation was effective in improving POP stage, PFM strength/endurance, and QoL in women with POP. IF current stimulation can be used as a complementary treatment method in women with POP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Sciences Institute, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Doctoral Program, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey

    Zehra Korkut

  2. Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey

    Emine Turen Demir

  3. Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey

    Seyda Toprak Celenay

Authors
  1. Zehra Korkut
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  2. Emine Turen Demir
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  3. Seyda Toprak Celenay
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Contributions

Z. Korkut: project development, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing/editing; E. Turen Demir: data collection, data interpretation and manuscript writing/editing; S. Toprak Celenay: project development, data analysis and interpretation and manuscript writing/editing.

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Correspondence to Seyda Toprak Celenay.

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Korkut, Z., Demir, E.T. & Celenay, S.T. Effects of interferential current stimulation in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a prospective randomized sham-controlled study. Int Urogynecol J 34, 279–289 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-022-05402-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-022-05402-3

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