Shockwave therapy may benefit patients of chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Study

The results of the study are as follows:

• The researchers included five sham RCTs and one non-sham RCT.
• In the meta-analysis of sham RCTs, both the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) pain domain score and the numeric pain rating scale improved significantly after LiST vs sham therapy at the assessment directly after treatment protocol completion, and at 3 months after last treatment session.
• Similarly, the NIH-CPSI total and quality-of-life domain scores improved significantly after LiST compared to sham therapy for the same time-points. Conversely, the long-term efficacy of LiST, as well as the effect of LiST on lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile function, was clinically insignificant.

Thus, the researchers concluded that LiST is an effective treatment modality for the improvement of pain and quality of life in patients with CP/CPPS. Therefore, it should be recommended as a part of individualised treatment strategies in such patients.

Reference:

Low-intensity shockwave therapy for the management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis by Mykoniatis I et. al published in the BJUI International.

https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.15335