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Acupuncture for Pelvic Floor Disorders

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Electrical Stimulation for Pelvic Floor Disorders

Abstract

Acupuncture was not accepted by physicians for a long time, in part due to the mysterious and unexplainable mechanisms of traditional Chinese acupuncture. Subsequently the neurophysiological mechanism of acupuncture has been clarified. The technology has become scientifically approved and has been considered on par with other medical treatments.

In addition to a variety of neurological and cardiovascular disorders, acupuncture has been shown to be effective for treatment of colo-recto-anal, urinary bladder, and sexual dysfunction.

Acupuncture, with functional results comparable with those after sacral nerve stimulation – the currently most popular option for treatment of fecal incontinence – is a simple, noninvasive technique. Hospital resources are not required. Treatment can be offered in the outpatient clinic by an adequately trained nurse or physiotherapist. Our study confirms the results of previous papers indicating that acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment that should be successfully incorporated in a community-based setting for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and pelvic floor dysfunction. Patients should at least be informed that these alternative options exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, 10043, Italy

    Marco Scaglia & Mattia Tullio

  2. Department of General Surgery, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, 10043, Italy

    Ines Destefano

  3. Department of Surgery, The Colorectal Unit Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Leif Hultén

  4. Institute for surgical science, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden

    Leif Hultén

Authors
  1. Marco Scaglia
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  2. Mattia Tullio
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  3. Ines Destefano
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  4. Leif Hultén
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Correspondence to Marco Scaglia .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. General, Emergency and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy

    Jacopo Martellucci

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Scaglia, M., Tullio, M., Destefano, I., Hultén, L. (2015). Acupuncture for Pelvic Floor Disorders. In: Martellucci, J. (eds) Electrical Stimulation for Pelvic Floor Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06947-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06947-0_5

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