NCT07101731

Effects of Hypopressive Exercises on Urinary Incontinence and Erectile Dysfunction After Radical Prostatectomy

The Effects of Hypopressive Exercises on Urinary Incontinence and Erectile Dysfunction After Radical Prostatectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Bartın Unıversity · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of hypopressive exercises on urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction in men following radical prostatectomy. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: a control group receiving home-based pelvic floor muscle exercises and an experimental group receiving both pelvic floor muscle exercises and supervised hypopressive exercises twice per week. The study aims to determine whether the addition of hypopressive techniques, which target coordinated activation of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles without increasing intra-abdominal pressure, offers greater improvements in urinary and sexual function. Primary outcomes include pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance, while secondary outcomes include urinary incontinence severity, erectile function, and quality of life.

Detailed description

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies among men, with radical prostatectomy being a widely used treatment option. However, post-surgical complications such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction significantly affect the quality of life of these patients. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is frequently recommended to manage these complications, yet its standalone effectiveness remains debatable. Recent literature highlights that optimal pelvic floor function is achieved through coordinated activation with abdominal and respiratory muscles, such as the transversus abdominis, rectus abdominis, and diaphragm. Despite this, conventional PFMT protocols for post-prostatectomy patients often neglect this integrated muscle synergy. Hypopressive exercises, which involve postural techniques with apnea and breathing control, have been shown to activate both pelvic floor and abdominal muscles without increasing intra-abdominal pressure. This study aims to evaluate the effects of hypopressive exercises, in addition to standard pelvic floor exercises, on pelvic floor muscle strength, urinary incontinence severity, and erectile function in post-prostatectomy men. The study will be conducted with two arms: a control group performing home-based pelvic floor exercises and an experimental group performing the same PFMT along with supervised hypopressive exercises twice weekly for 8 weeks. Outcomes will be assessed pre- and post-intervention, focusing on both physical performance and patient-reported measures.

Conditions

• Prostate Cancer (Post Prostatectomy)
• Urinary Incontinence
• Erectile Dysfunction Following Radical Prostatectomy
• Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT)	Participants in the control group will receive an individualized home-based pelvic floor muscle exercise program. Exercises will be performed once daily for 8 weeks, focusing on voluntary pelvic floor contractions in various positions (supine, sitting, standing). Participants will receive initial training and written instructions from a physiotherapist, and will be contacted weekly to monitor adherence.
BEHAVIORAL	Hypopressive Exercises	Participants in the experimental group will attend supervised hypopressive exercise sessions twice per week for 8 weeks. These sessions involve specific postural sequences combined with breathing and apnea techniques aimed at reducing intra-abdominal pressure while activating pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. Sessions will be led by a physiotherapist and adapted based on individual performance and posture tolerance.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-06-01
• Primary completion: 2025-11-15
• Completion: 2025-11-15
• First posted: 2025-08-03
• Last updated: 2025-08-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)