Application of low-energy shock wave therapy on functional bladder disorders: A review

Functional bladder disorders pose a notable challenge to public health, impacting a large segment of the population. Conventional treatments—such as behavioral interventions, oral pharmacotherapy, intravesical administration, and surgical procedures—remain widely utilized. Nonetheless, their efficacy can be limited and often accompanied by adverse effects, particularly in elderly individuals where treatment safety is a major concern. This underscores the pressing need for nonpharmacological and noninvasive therapeutic options. Low-energy shock wave therapy (LESW), when targeted to specific tissues, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, analgesic effects, and the ability to promote tissue repair. It has been extensively applied in fields like orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation to support the restoration of tissue function. In the field of urology, LESW has shown promise in treating chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and erectile dysfunction. More recently, both experimental research and clinical investigations have spurred interest in expanding its use for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, overactive bladder, underactive bladder, and stress urinary incontinence. Additionally, LESW can temporarily increase tissue permeability, thereby enhancing intravesical drug absorption and potentiating bladder-targeted therapies. This review consolidates findings from PubMed to explore the role of LESW in managing functional bladder disorders, linking laboratory-based research with clinical application.