Effects of tibial and parasacral nerve electrostimulation techniques on women with poststroke overactive bladder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic bladder (NB) can affect people after stroke episodes. NB features changes in the normal voiding pattern at the bladder filling and emptying phases. Overactive NB is characterized by urgency symptoms, with or without urinary incontinence, caused by NB. This disorder affects many domains of life (physical, social, psychological, domestic, sexual) that limit personal autonomy and degrade the quality of life. Among the several treatments available, the conservative physical therapy intervention through tibial nerve electrostimulation (TNES) and parasacral electrostimulation (PSES) can help improve patient conditions with a smaller number of collateral effects than those of interventions based on medication. The aim of the present study is to compare the effects of TNES and PSES techniques in women with overactive NB after stroke episodes to assess the impact of urinary incontinence in these women, on their number of incontinence episodes, daytime and nocturnal urinary frequency, and quality of life. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical study to compare two randomized groups based on parallel and blind conditions. Forty-four women who have had a stroke episode at least 30 days before the trial and who have developed overactive NB will be recruited for the trial. All patients will be subjected to initial evaluation and randomly divided into two groups, TNES and PSES. Subsequently, the two groups will be subjected to a 12-session intervention protocol, twice a week. A new evaluation will be performed after the intervention. DISCUSSION: The results of this study will contribute to the physiotherapeutic treatment of women with NB after a stroke episode since such results will add information about the benefits of this treatment, urinary control, and the improvements in the quality of life of these women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC) RBR-2bn2z4. Registered on December 11, 2018