Comparing two different low‐intensity shockwave therapy frequency protocols for nonbacterial chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A two‐arm, parallel‐group randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Despite encouraging results, the optimal low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiST) protocol in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) remains unknown. We conducted a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial aiming to compare the efficacy and safety of six LiST sessions applied once or twice weekly.Methods: Fifty patients with CP/CPPS type IIIb were randomly assigned to six LiST sessions once (Group A, n = 25) or twice weekly (Group B, n = 25). Both groups followed the same treatment protocol in terms of LiST application, impulses (5000/ session), energy flux density (0.096 mJ/mm 2 ) and frequency (5 Hz). Subsequently, all participants were evaluated at 1 and 3 months after completion of LiST protocol.Results: At the follow-up evaluations, LiST significantly improved the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) total, pain and quality of life scores, as well as the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Domain (IIEF-ED) in both groups (p < .001 for all measures). Comparing between the two groups, no significant differences were demonstrated in the NIH-CPSI total, pain, urinary and quality of life scores, as well as in the International Prostate Symptom Score, IIEF-ED, and LiST-induced pain at both follow-up evaluations. Accordingly, no adverse events and no dropouts were observed in both groups. Conclusion:Six sessions of LiST applied once weekly for 6 weeks or twice weekly for 3 weeks seem to be equally safe and effective in patients with CP/CPPS. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary, since LiST gradually gains its place for the management of CP/CPPS.

The Effect of Low-Intensity Shock Wave Therapy on Moderate Erectile Dysfunction: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…More specifically, 2,000 impulses were delivered to the corpora cavernosa, 2,000 to the crura cavernosa and 1,000 to the penile hila based on a protocol developed by our research team. 12–14…”

The use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy along with other non-drug methods in the treatment of chronic prostatitis from the standpoint of modern evidence-based medicine

“…Также I. Mykoniatis и соавт. (2021) [27] провели РКИ для сравнения эффективности и безопасности 6 сеансов низкоинтенсивной ЭУВТ (ARIES 2 и Smart Focus probe, Dornier MedTech GmbH, Германия) у 50 па -…”

“…Через 1 и 3 мес после курса лечения ЭУВТ значительно улучшились показатели по опросникам NIH-CPSI, IPSS, МИЭФ-5 в обеих группах (р <0,001). При сравнении эффективности лечения ЭУВТ статистически значимой разницы между двумя группами не зафиксировано [27].…”

The therapeutic effect and safety profile of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a systematic review

“…They compared between group of 1 session per week and 2 sessions per week for overall 6 sessions applied and resulted in statistically insignificant for both groups compared (p-value>0.05) but statistically significant compared to the baseline (p-value< 0.05). 11…”

“…However all ESWT clinical protocols in this systematic review have shown significant improvement of CPSI scores compared to baseline. 11 ESWT effect on pain domain From 3 different type of ESWT machinery (EP, EM, PE), all of them shared the same effect on pain domain from CPSI scoring system. Study from Ghazi et al, using EP Roland Pagani ES.WT machine showed significant improvement of pain symptom.…”