Laser Acupuncture Alleviates Symptoms and Improves Quality of Life in Women with Overactive Bladder: A Double-Blind, Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of laser acupuncture for the treatment of women with overactive bladder (OAB) in Taiwan. METHODS: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on female patients with OAB symptoms referred from gynecologists, and subjects were divided into two groups using blocked randomization. LaserPan (RJ-Laser, Germany) was applied to seven selected acupuncture points. The subjects received laser acupuncture 3 times per week for 3 weeks, 9 sessions in total. Basic patient data, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), and Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) scores were recorded prior to first treatment and at the end of 3(rd), 6(th), and 9(th) treatments. RESULTS: Thirty patients were enrolled, and twenty-seven patients completed all treatments in this study. The OABSS total score of the experimental group decreased significantly by 3.13 (p ≤ 0.001), 4.60 (p ≤ 0.001), and 3.79 (p ≤ 0.001) after 3(rd), 6(th), and 9(th) treatments, respectively, compared with that of the control group. The IIQ-7 score declined significantly from baseline by 4.57 (p=0.003) and 3.63 (p=0.023) after 3(rd) and 6(th) treatments, respectively, compared with that of the control group. Similarly, the UDI-6 score of the experimental group exhibited a significant decrease from baseline by 1.90 (p=0.042) and 2.25 (p=0.025) after 6(th) and 9(th) interventions, respectively, compared with that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that laser acupuncture can alleviate OAB symptoms and improve quality of life. This noninvasive device could be an effective therapy for women with OAB.