Evaluation of a Mobile Electrode for Electrical Stimulation of the Perineal Muscle - Preventive or Therapeutic Treatment

This work evaluates the effectiveness of a new type of electrode for functional electrical stimulation of the perineal muscle in women and in men. The new electrode is shaped like a pen, with an active stimulation electrode located on its tip. The goals of the study are to (i) demonstrate that stimulation using the new device results in increased muscle strength; and (ii) compare the performance of the new device with that of a traditional (fixed) electrode. Eight patients were evaluated, following a blind study protocol. The preliminary results suggest that stimulation with the new electrode achieves better results than stimulation with traditional electrodes, as higher increases in strength were observed in the group that used the mobile electrode for preventive treatment and as an option of therapeutic treatment for female and for male perineal dysfunction, in particular on erectile dysfunction in men with spinal cord injury.