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A comparative study of transcutaneous interferential electrical stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on children with primary nocturnal enuresis: a randomized clinical trial

International Urology and Nephrology volume 52, pages 409–415 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Nocturnal enuresis is an infrequent uncontrolled voiding during sleep in a child aged 5 years or more without any congenital or acquired disorders of the central nervous system.

Objective

To compare immediate and short-term effects of interferential currents (IFC) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of children with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) in numbers of wet nights and quality of life (QoL).

Study design

52 children aged 7–14 (10.6 ± 1.9) having PNE, were assigned randomly into two groups (26 children for each group). Both IFC and TENS groups continued treatment session for 20 min, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks. The outcome measures were the number of wet nights, and QoL through pediatric incontinence questionnaire (PinQ).The measurements were evaluated before treatment (Pre-), after the last session (Post-1), and 6 months later (Post-2).

Results

By comparing the Pre- and Post-1 mean values, the number of wet nights, reduced significantly (P < 0.05) in both groups, in favor of IFC group. Post-1 showed many children with full and good responses and few numbers with partial or no responses to IFC than TENS. Post-1 revealed that PinQ was significantly reduced in both groups in favor of the IFC group (P < 0.05). The values were slightly improved in both groups in Post-2, they were significantly different between Pre- and post-measurements in each group (P < 0.05). Comparison between both groups showed significant differences in the mean values between Post-1 and Post-2 in favor of IFC group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

IFC and TENS had immediate and short-term improvements in children with PNE by reducing numbers of wet nights and enhancing QoL in favor of the IFC group.

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Fig. 1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, New Kasr El-Aini Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Nermeen Mohamed Abdelhalim

  2. Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Marwa Mohamed Ibrahim

  3. Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

    Nermeen Mohamed Abdelhalim & Marwa Mohamed Ibrahim

Authors
  1. Nermeen Mohamed Abdelhalim
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  2. Marwa Mohamed Ibrahim
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NMA had complete right to use all information in this study and has the accountability for the honesty of the data and the correctness of the statistical analysis. Study idea and strategy. All authors recruiting of the manuscript: MMI made Statistical analysis.

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Correspondence to Nermeen Mohamed Abdelhalim.

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Abdelhalim, N.M., Ibrahim, M.M. A comparative study of transcutaneous interferential electrical stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on children with primary nocturnal enuresis: a randomized clinical trial. Int Urol Nephrol 52, 409–415 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-019-02340-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-019-02340-w

Keywords

  • Primary nocturnal enuresis
  • Interferential currents
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
  • Quality of life