Use of Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation (TPTNS) in Maintaining OAB Symptoms Improvement.

TPTNS through a TENS unit is a non-invasive technique, easily manageable by patients, which lacks some adverse side effects reported with the use of PTNS, such as bleeding and/or pain at the site of needle insertion. As the technique is self-administered, the associated costs might be substantially lower when compared to PTNS, which involves repeated Hospital appointments for maintenance therapy.

PTNS aims to stimulate the sacral nerve plexus (origin to the parasympathetic innervations to the bladder) through the afferent fibres of the posterior tibial nerve, a mixed nerve containing L5-S3 fibres (Slovak, Chapple and Barker, 2014). This is achieved by a needle electrode inserted above the medial malleolus. Interestingly, this anatomical area is known as acupuncture point Spleen6 (Sp6).