The Effect of Low-intensity Shockwave Therapy on Non-neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Abstract

Context: Low-intensity shockwave therapy (LiST) has emerged as an effective treatment for pain in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), and it has been postulated that LiST may also be effective in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental and clinical studies exploring the effect of LiST on LUTS in an attempt to provide clinical implications for future research.

Evidence acquisition: We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases from inception to March 2021 for relevant studies. We provided a qualitative synthesis regarding the role of LiST in LUTS and performed a single-arm, random-effect meta-analysis to assess the absolute effect of LiST on LUTS only in patients with CP/CPPS (PROSPERO: CRD42021238281).

Evidence synthesis: We included 23 studies (11 experimental studies, seven nonrandomized controlled trials [non-RCTs], and five RCTs) in the systematic review and seven in the meta-analysis. All experimental studies were performed on rats with LUTS, and the clinical studies recruited a total of 539 participants. In patients with CP/CPPS, the absolute effect of LiST on maximum flow rate and postvoid residual was clinically insignificant. However, the available studies suggest that LiST is effective for the management of pain in patients with either CP/CPPS or interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Additionally, LiST after intravesical instillation of botulinum neurotoxin type A may enhance its absorption and substitute botulinum neurotoxin type A injections in patients with overactive bladder. Furthermore, the available evidence is inconclusive about the role of LiST in patients with benign prostatic obstruction, stress urinary incontinence, or underactive bladder/detrusor hypoactivity.

Conclusions: LiST may be effective for some disorders causing LUTS. Still, further studies on the matter are necessary, since the available evidence is scarce.

Patient summary: Low-intensity shockwave therapy represents a safe, easily applied, indolent, and repeatable on an outpatient basis treatment modality that may improve lower urinary tract symptoms.

Keywords: Low-intensity shockwave therapy; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Meta-analysis.