Korean J Urol.  2001 Sep;42(9):938-941.

Early Experience with Extracorporeal Magnetic Innervation (ExMI) Therapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence

• Kim KH
• Hong JY
• Yoon HN

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess if extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMI) can be successful in treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We studied 38 women with demonstrable stress urinary incontinence. Evaluation before treatment included history, physical examination, voiding diary, perineometer that measures the strength and endurance of pelvic floor muscle contractions, urodynamic study and quality of life questionnaires. Treatments were performed for 20 minutes (10Hz for 10 minutes and 50Hz for 10 minutes), twice a week for 6 weeks. After ExMI therapy, all of the evaluations were repeated at the eighth week.
RESULTS
The follow up care was continued on the patients for longer than 2 months. Fourteen out of the 38 patients (36%) were dry after the ExMI treatment. The frequency of leak episodes was reduced from 2.8 to 1.7 in 2 months. Pelvic floor muscle contraction (PMC) pressure was increased from 10.42 4.35 to 17.02 4.04mmHg.
CONCLUSIONS
Our early results suggest that ExMI therapy is an effective approach for the treatment of SUI. However, longer follow-up is required to determine how long the benefits of treatment last, whether re-treatment will be necessary, and what the effective treatment strategies are.

Keyword

Stress urinary incontinence; Magnetic innervation therapy

MeSH Terms

Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Muscle Contraction
Pelvic Floor
Physical Examination
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Urinary Incontinence*
Urodynamics