ABSTRACT

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and distressing complication in patients with diabetic neuropathy, significantly affecting quality of life. Conventional physiotherapy is widely used; however, nerve damage associated with diabetic neuropathy may limit its effectiveness. Functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) is a non-invasive modality that induces pelvic floor muscle contractions and may offer additional benefits in managing urinary incontinence. Methods: An experimental study design was conducted with 30 patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy and urinary incontinence, randomly allocated into two groups (n = 15 each). Group A received functional magnetic stimulation combined with conventional physiotherapy, while Group B received conventional physiotherapy alone. Interventions were administered three sessions per week for six weeks. Outcome measures included the ICIQ-SF, ICIQ-LUTSqol, and the Saskatchewan Pelvic Floor Pathway. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were analyzed using non-parametric tests (Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann– Whitney U test) Results: Both groups showed statistically significant improvement in all outcome measures following intervention (p < 0.001). However, post-treatment comparisons between groups revealed significantly greater improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group across all outcomemeasures (p < 0.001). Baseline characteristics, including age and gender distribution, were comparable between groups, indicating homogeneity. Conclusion: Functional magnetic stimulation combined with conventional physiotherapy is more effective than conventional physiotherapy alone in reducing urinary incontinence symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with diabetic neuropathy. FMS appears to be a safe, non-invasive, and effective adjunct treatment for managing urinary incontinence in this population. Keywords: Diabetic neuropathy, urinary incontinence, functional magnetic stimulation, pelvic floor rehabilitation, physiotherapy
Publication date: 01/11/2026

https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/November/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10547.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.11.10547