Vibration or Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Spinal Cord Injury: Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial

María del-Carmen Díaz-Ruiz, Rita-Pilar Romero-Galisteo, Beatriz Arranz-Martín, Rocío Palomo-Carrión, Sara Ando-Lafuente and Cristina Lirio-Romero
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María del-Carmen Díaz-Ruiz: Department of Physiotherapy, Aranjuez Nursing Home Center, 28300 Madrid, Spain
Rita-Pilar Romero-Galisteo: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Science Health, University of Málaga, 29016 Málaga, Spain
Beatriz Arranz-Martín: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Rocío Palomo-Carrión: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Sara Ando-Lafuente: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Cristina Lirio-Romero: Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy and Nursing, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: Background: Women with spinal cord injuries usually suffer from sexual dysfunction, such as alterations during arousal and an increase in the time to reach orgasm. However, little evidence has been found on its physiotherapeutic approach, as well as poor adherence to the latter. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of two interventions to improve sexual dysfunction: the application of genital vibration and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial that will recruit 54 women who, one year after a spinal cord injury, suffer from sexual dysfunction associated with the latter. The participants will be randomized to three groups: (a) intervention group 1 treated with transcutaneous tibial nerve electrostimulation ( n = 18), (b) intervention group 2 treated with genital vibration ( n = 18), and (c) a control group ( n = 18). The treatment time will be 12 weeks. Adherence to the treatment will be evaluated, as well as the effectiveness of the treatment, through the Female Sexual Function Index, the Sexual Quality of Life-Female questionnaire, quantitative sensory tests, and the improvement reported by the patient in terms of arousal and orgasm. The evaluations will be carried out before the treatment, at the end of the treatment and 3, 6 and 12 months after the end of the treatment.

Keywords: spinal cord injuries; women; pelvic floor disorders; sexual and gender disorders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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