Abstract

Background. Interstitial cystitis is a range of urological manifestations that are characterized by bladder, pelvic and urethral pain, just as irritative voiding side effects. It is characterized by the International Continence Society as the protest of suprapubic pain, identified with bladder filling combined by different manifestations, for example, expanded day time and evening time recurrence, without demonstrated urinary contamination or different evident pathology of the lower urinary tract. Objective. To investigate the effect of interferential electrical stimulation on pain perception and disability level on interstitial cystitis. Participants and methods. A total of 40 volunteering women diagnosed with interstitial cystitis. Their ages were ranged between 25 to 40 years old and their body mass index was > 30 kg/m2. Participants were randomly assigned to two equally numbered groups; group (A) receiving interferential current at the lower abdomen, in addition to a routine medical intervention, or group (B) receiving solely routine medical intervention for 8 successive weeks. Participants were assessed for pain using visual analog scale (VAS), related disability index using levels using O’Leary–Sant Symptom Index or Interstitial Cystitis Index (ICSI), and blood cortisol concentration. Measurements were taken before and after eight weeks of intervention. Results. The analysis of the results revealed a significant reduction in VAS score (P < 0.0001), ICSI scores (P < 0.0001), and the plasma cortisol concentration (P < 0.0001) in the participants of group (A) at the end of the treatment, compared to group (B). Conclusion. These results concluded that adding IC therapy to routine medical intervention had an excellent effect on the management of interstitial cystitis associated signs and symptoms particularly pain, plasma cortisol levels, related disabilities.

Key words:

Interferential current, pain perception, disability level, interstitial Cystitis