Electrical Versus Manual Stimulation of Acupuncture Points in Female Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction - A Pragmatic, Exploratory, Three-Arm, Randomized Controlled Trial Using a Mixed Methods Approach
Electrical vs. manual stimulation: The study compares two types of acupuncture - one using mild electrical currents and one using just manual no-needle techniques in the treatment of urinary bladder disfunction. The study focuses on women diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) who also have neurogenic bladder dysfunction - a condition where the bladder doesn't work properly due to nerve damage.
• Female patients, aged 18-60 years, with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤ 6
• Stable immunomodulatory MS therapy for at least 3 months prior to enrollment
• Presence of at least 3 out of the following 6 criteria indicative of overactive bladder dysfunction: urgency, daytime urinary frequency \>10 times, nocturia \>1 time per night, post-void dribbling, incontinence, or delayed initiation of micturition
• Participants must be willing and cognitively and linguistically capable of adhering to the study protocol, performing the study interventions, and completing the required study documentation
• Capacity to provide informed consent, and provision of written consent for both written and electronic data collection and participation in the study