Role of electrical stimulation in current pelvic health practice

The term “electrophysical agents” covers numerous modalities, all of which have undergone cycles of credibility and use in the physiotherapy profession. In particular, the acceptance of electrical stimulation is seeing a resurgence, possibly because of increasing research into sacral nerve modulation and tibial nerve stimulation. When and where clinicians studied will dictate how much, if any, training they received in electrical stimulation techniques. This means that some may have had very little previous exposure to and understanding of how to apply these procedures in the clinical setting. Mechanisms of action vary depending on the condition and structures being targeted. However, the terminology remains inconsistent, as do the protocols employed in the research field, which can cause further confusion. This commentary aims to present a practical, evidenced-based clinical approach to discuss the role of electrical stimulation in current pelvic health practice.