Effect of monopolar capacitive resistive radiofrequency in treating stress urinary incontinence: A pilot randomized control trial

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of 448 kHz monopolar capacitive resistive radiofrequency (MCRR) in the treatment of females with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty females with SUI complaints were separated randomly into two equal groups. Group A with 20 females received the MCRR therapy for 20 min and performed pelvic floor exercises for 20 min. Group B with 20 females received placebo treatment by applying the same application as in Group A without emitting any waves for 20 min, three times a week, for 4 weeks. The patients in both groups were instructed to pause the treatment during their menstruation; the patients were instructed to maintain home pelvic floor exercises. Both groups were assessed by a perineometer that was used to assess the strength of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the Incontinence Symptom Severity Index to assess the frequency of urinary incontinence symptoms as described by each patient before treatment and after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in VAS and the Incontinence Symptom Severity Index and a significant increase in the strength of the PFM in both groups post-treatment compared with the pre-treatment. Regarding between-subject effects, there was a significant difference in VAS, the Incontinence Symptom Severity Index, and the perineometer between both groups (p < 0.05), and this significant improvement favored Group A. CONCLUSION: MCRR and pelvic floor exercises are more effective methods for the treatment of SUI than just pelvic floor exercises of females with SUI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT04612205.