NCT07421531

Effects of Pilates With and Without Voluntary Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction Compared to Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Pilates, Pilates Combined With Voluntary Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction, and Isolated Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 78 (actual)
• Sponsor: Federal University of Uberlandia · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of three exercise programs for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women: (1) Pilates without voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction, (2) Pilates combined with voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction, and (3) isolated pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). Seventy-eight women aged over 18 years with self-reported SUI are randomly allocated into three parallel groups. Interventions last 6 weeks, with two sessions per week (12 sessions). The primary outcome is the change in the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF) score from baseline to post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include urinary frequency and leakage episodes (72-hour bladder diary), pelvic floor muscle strength (Modified Oxford Scale), endurance, rapid contractions, and vaginal squeeze pressure measured by perineal manometry (Peritron). The hypothesis is that Pilates combined with voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction will be superior to Pilates alone and comparable or superior to isolated PFMT.

Conditions

• Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Pelvic Floor Muscle Training	Supervised isolated pelvic floor muscle exercises performed in supine, sitting, and standing positions, including sustained and rapid contractions, twice weekly for 12 sessions.
OTHER	Pilates Exercise Program	12-session supervised Pilates program including mat and apparatus exercises (Reformer, Chair, Cadillac), performed twice weekly. Abdominal activation during expiration is required, without voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction instruction.
OTHER	Pilates With Voluntary Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction	Same 12-session supervised Pilates protocol, with simultaneous voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction during each expiratory phase.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-03-07
• Primary completion: 2025-11-29
• Completion: 2025-11-29
• First posted: 2026-02-19
• Last updated: 2026-02-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Brazil