Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation is an effective treatment for urgency urinary incontinence in older women

This study investigated the effectiveness of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) in the treatment of urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) in older women. Researchers suggested that TTNS showed effectiveness at a 12-month follow-up in these patients.

UUI is not very common in young women, but its occurrence significantly increases after 60 years of age. UUI is when there is a sudden urge to urinate, the bladder muscles contract and there is a leak of urine.

There are several treatment options for this condition. However, the standard first-line treatment includes medication. This type of treatment is associated with negative side effects and poor treatment response for some patients. 

TTNS consists of placing a needle in the ankle to activate the tibial (shin) nerve by electrical stimulation. This will activate the nerves of the bladder and stop the bladder muscle contractions. Prior studies showed that TTNS is effective in treated UUI in the short-term. However, the long-term effectiveness of TTNS in older women is still not known.

This study included 101 women with more than 60 years of age. Half of participants received pelvic muscle training alone (group 1) and half received pelvic muscle training combined with TTNS (group 2). TTNS treatment was received once a week for 30 minutes for 12 weeks. Patients were followed-up at the start of the treatment, at 4 weeks after the 12-week treatment, and every 3 months for 12 months.

66.7% of patients from group 2 reported overall satisfaction with the treatment when compared to 32% in group 1. Patients from group 2 showed a significant increase in quality of life when compared to group 1. Patients in group 2 also had significant improvements in UUI symptoms compared to group 1.

32 patients in group 2 and 16 in group 1 were satisfied after the 12-week treatment and completed the 12-month follow-up. In group 2, 81.2% of patients were still satisfied at the end of the 12-month follow-up. This was compared to 37.5% in group 1.

This study concluded that TTNS is associated with effectiveness at 12-month follow-up in older women with UUI. 

This study had a limited follow-up period. Further studies with a longer follow-up evaluation are needed.