A comparison of neuromuscular external stimulator and motion-based sensor devices for the management of urinary incontinence.

INTRODUCTION

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and often debilitating condition affecting a significant portion of adult women, with a substantial physical, psychosocial, and quality of life impacts. Pelvic floor muscle therapy (PFMT) is a first-line, noninvasive treatment for UI; however, technological innovations are offering new approaches to enhance treatment adherence and outcomes. This review compares two devices - Innovo, a neuromuscular electrical stimulation wearable garment (NMESWG), and Leva, an intravaginal sensor-based system (IVSBS) in the management of UI.

AREAS COVERED: The NMESWG device, FDA-cleared for stress UI, provides external electrical stimulation, showing mixed clinical efficacy in trials, with promising pad weight reductions but limited sample sizes. In contrast, IVSBS uses accelerometer-based feedback via a mobile app and has shown superior outcomes, including significant reductions in symptom severity, improved pelvic floor function, and long-term symptom relief. IVSBS also demonstrated higher patient adherence, with better patient-reported outcomes.Both devices are safe and well tolerated, with IVSBS benefitting from a more robust base of clinical evidence and patient engagement data than the NMESWG has.

EXPERT OPINION: At-home UI therapies may expand access to care for motivated, technologically literate individuals, with sufficient evidence to support IVSBS use.