Reflex electrical stimulation for urinary incontinence

Our previous observations have shown that the electrical stimulation of muscles is prevalently reflex. One of the advantages of reflex stimulation is that it activates not only a limited number of motor units, but rather a number of muscles connected by the same reflex from a single stimulation site. Consequently, it is not necessary to place electrodes into the muscle to be activated. They can be put elsewhere provided that the same effect is obtained and that it is more convenient for the patient. Such an opportunity arises when treating urinary incontinence which involves not only the urethral sphincter but also the group of synergistic muscles of the pelvic floor. Our experiments with several patients suffering stress incontinence have shown that indirect stimulation of the levator ani with a vaginal stimulator and especially of the anal sphincter with an anal stimulator affects the urethral sphincter in the same way as direct stimulation. These findings are significant since they enable us to use external instead of implantable stimulators. External stimulation is worth trying in all cases of stress incontinence where conservative measures have failed. In our cases, the results have been very satisfactory.