The Effect of Extracorporeal Magnetic Innervation Therapy on Pain, Urination and Quality of Life in Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Park, Hae Young; Moon, Hong Sang

Abstract

PURPOSE
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CPPS) is the most common category of the chronic prostatitis. CPPS is a poorly defined, multifactorial condition characterized by pelvic pain and voiding symptoms. The effectiveness of extracorporeal magnetic innervation(ExMI) therapy was evaluated in patients with CPPS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From July 2003 to December 2004, 28 men who were diagnosed with CPPS who were refractory to medication underwent ExMI therapy for 2 visits weekly for 8 weeks. The patients completed the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI) and a maximal flow rate index.
RESULTS
Significant decreases occured in NIH-CPSI pain(9.7 to 8.3, p <0.05), NIH-CPSI urination(4.4 to 3.9, p <0.05), NIH-CPSI quality of life 8.7 to 7.7, p <0.05), and total NIH-CPSI(22.8 to 19.9, p <0.05) scores after treatment. There was an insignificant decrease in the maximal flow rate(21.5 to 21.4, p> 0.05) score after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
ExMI therapy effectively improves the symptoms of CPPS. ExMI therapy appears to be a safe and effective treatment in improving both the symptoms and the quality of life of men with CPPS refractory to conventional treatment. A larger controlled study is required to confirm these results.