title: Impact of ao-dake-humi, Japanese traditional bamboo foot stimulator, on lower urinary tract symptoms, constipation and hypersensitivity to cold: a single-arm prospective pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ao-dake-humi is a traditional Japanese bamboo foot stimulator consisting of a half-pipe-shaped step made of bamboo used to stimulate the foot by stepping on it, and is commonly used to promote general health among the elderly in Japan. However, its efficacy has not been reported in the scientific literature. This study was performed to investigate the role of ao-dake-humi focusing on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), constipation, and hypersensitivity to cold (HC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants with LUTS, constipation, or HC were enrolled in this study. Ao-dake-humi was used twice a day for 28 days. Before and 28 days after starting ao-dake-humi use, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality-of-life (QoL) score, and overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) were measured to evaluate the efficacy of ao-dake-humi on LUTS. To evaluate the objective efficacy of ao-dake-humi on LUTS, a frequency-volume chart (FVC) was plotted in LUTS patients for 3 days. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the efficacy of ao-dake-humi on constipation (VAS-constipation) and HC (VAS-HC) in the participants with constipation or HC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 24 participants were enrolled in this study. Twenty-one participants had LUTS, 11 had constipation, and 17 participants had HC. IPSS, especially storage-subscore, QoL score and OABSS, decreased significantly after use of ao-dake-humi. The use of ao-dake-humi increased maximal bladder capacity, resulting in a significant decrease in urinary frequency as determined from the FVC. In accordance with the results of VAS-constipation and VAS-HC, both constipation and HC were significantly relieved after ao-dake-humi use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this prospective pilot study indicated that ao-dake-humi is safe and has therapeutic efficacy in cases of LUTS, constipation and HC. The possibility of using ao-dake-humi as physical neuromodulation therapy was shown in the management of LUTS, constipation and HC.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  UMIN000019333 (UMIN-CTR, Registered October-15-2015) retrospectively registered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. minagawat@shinshu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saitou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Domen
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Masakuni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirakata
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, 390-8621, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ishizuka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003248:Constipation / Q000628:therapy*; D056587:Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Colon; Constipation; Hypersensitivity to cold; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Neuromodulation; Reflexology; Skin; Urinary bladder; ao-dake-humi