Electroacupuncture Shown to Improve Early Urinary Continence Recovery After Prostate Surgery, suggests study
A randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open has shown that electroacupuncture can significantly improve early urinary continence recovery in men following radical prostatectomy. Conducted by Niu J., Wang Y., and colleagues at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the study evaluated 110 men with urinary incontinence after robot-assisted prostate surgery. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either electroacupuncture or sham stimulation for six weeks. Findings revealed that men who received electroacupuncture achieved a much higher continence rate at six weeks compared to those in the control group. Additionally, urine leakage volume was notably reduced, and the therapy was well tolerated with minimal adverse events.
The study’s design focused on patients who continued to experience urinary incontinence four to six weeks after surgery—an issue that significantly affects quality of life and emotional well-being. Electroacupuncture was applied at specific sacral acupoints associated with bladder control, using alternating low-frequency electrical stimulation. In contrast, the sham group received non-penetrating needles at nearby points without stimulation. Results indicated that electroacupuncture not only accelerated the recovery of bladder control but also reduced the severity of incontinence episodes, suggesting an enhancement in pelvic floor muscle function and neuromuscular coordination. The trial followed patients for twenty weeks to assess durability of benefits, confirming sustained improvement without significant complications.
The authors concluded that electroacupuncture represents a safe, effective, and noninvasive therapy for men struggling with early urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. Given the limited availability of non-surgical rehabilitation options, the study provides strong evidence supporting the inclusion of electroacupuncture in postoperative recovery programs. The therapy can complement standard pelvic floor training and help shorten the time to continence restoration. By improving early recovery, electroacupuncture may also enhance quality of life and confidence in prostate cancer survivors. Further large-scale, multicenter trials are encouraged to validate these findings and establish standardized treatment protocols.
Reference:
Niu, J., Wang, Y., Wang, Y., et al. (2025). Electroacupuncture in Patients With Early Urinary Incontinence After Radical Prostatectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 8(9), e2534491. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.34491
Keywords: electroacupuncture, urinary incontinence, radical prostatectomy, JAMA Network Open, Niu J., postoperative recovery, prostate cancer rehabilitation, urinary continence.
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