Low-frequency tibial neuromodulation excites bladder activity in humans.

Low-frequency tibial neuromodulation (1 Hz) excites bladder activity and alters urge perception in humans, demonstrating a frequency-dependent effect on bladder control.

• Why it matters: Understanding how tibial nerve stimulation influences bladder function is crucial for improving treatments for incontinence and urinary retention, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: Researchers conducted a single-blinded trial with healthy participants applying high- and low-frequency TNS and developed a computational model to study frequency effects on bladder control circuits.
• The result: Findings show that low-frequency TNS can upregulate bladder activity and modify urge perception, supporting the potential for targeted, non-invasive therapies for urinary retention.