Sacral Stimulation in Women With Low Back Pain: Effects on Pelvic Functions and Daily Life

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a term used to describe a variety of disorders involving moderate to severe impairment of the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor is a layer of muscle designed to support the abdominal organs and maintain urethral, anal, and vaginal continence. It includes the pubococcygeus, puborectalis, and iliococcygeus muscles. Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, which causes significant morbidity particularly in women, is associated with stress urinary incontinence, anal and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and sexual dysfunction, all of which can negatively affect quality of life in women. Moreover, various comorbid conditions such as back and neck pain, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and psychiatric disorders are also associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. In patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation, changes in pelvic floor muscle strength have been observed. These changes may be accompanied by urinary and sexual problems. Individuals with low back pain are at twice the risk of urinary incontinence compared to those without back pain, and strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles has been shown to reduce back pain. This study aims to understand the characteristics of transcutaneous sacral nerve stimulation, examine the neurophysiological basis of this treatment method, and evaluate its potential for future innovative approaches.