A new study reports on the efficacy of thermobalancing therapy using a new therapeutic device in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The results indicate the novel therapy can improve a series of clinical parameters, such as IPSS score, ultrasound measurement of prostate volume (PV) and uroflowmetry, and patients’ quality of life. The results were described in detail in the study entitled “Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment with New Physiotherapeutic Device,” published in the Urology Journal.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urological condition among older male patients, leading to augmentation of prostate volume, which can result in bladder outflow obstruction and a series of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that can decrease patients’ quality of life. Current treatments include medication and surgical procedures, such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Previous research has revealed that prolonged stress in tissues leads to hypoxia, ischemia, and hypothermia, and consequent growth of capillaries that, in a vicious cycle, augments pressure and hypothermia, which in the prostate gland results in chronic inflammation and progressive growth.

The research team, under Dr. Simon Allen’s supervision, designed a non-randomized controlled clinical trial to determine the effects of thermobalancing therapy via a therapeutic device designed to improve blood circulation in the prostate and relieve symptoms in BPH patients.  A total of 124 patients treated with the therapeutic device as a monotherapy and a control group of 124 patients that did not use the device were evaluated before and after 6-months of treatment. The novel device consists of a neoprene belt that keeps a thermoelement mixture of waxes in the projection of the prostate, acting as a source of heat for the gland. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), ultrasound measurement of prostate volume (PV) and uroflowmetry, through maximum flow rate (Qmax), were assessed and compared between groups of patients, before and after treatment.

Pre-treatment evaluation showed that, between the device group and the control group, there were no significant differences in age, IPSS score, Qmax and prostate volume. After 6-month of treatment with the thermobalancing device, the team observed an overall positive effect in the IPSS symptom score, PV, and uroflowmetry Q max parameters, and quality of life improvement, results that can be explained by the positive changes in the prostate gland from the prolonged accumulation of temperature.

The authors argue that thermobalancing therapy provides an alternative to classical BPH surgical treatments, which often result in other challenges and patient dissatisfaction.  “The results of this study demonstrate improvement in men with BPH after treatment with Therapeutic Device. We observed positive effects in the IPSS symptom score, PV, and uroflowmetry parameters. More studies with thermobalancing therapy for BPH are needed to draw final conclusion,” the authors conclude in their study.