Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization vs Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence

NCT ID: NCT07075900

Last Updated: 2025-07-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

51 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-16

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the pre- and post-treatment effects of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) training and Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT) on pelvic floor muscle function, pelvic floor morphometry, urinary symptoms, quality of life, sexual function, and physical activity levels in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Participants diagnosed with SUI by a specialist physician will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: DNS, PFMT, or a control group. Both DNS and PFMT interventions will be delivered as 12-week home exercise programs, performed five days a week and at least three times per day. To support adherence, participants will use an exercise diary. In addition, participants in the DNS and PFMT groups will attend the clinic twice a week for supervised sessions led by a physiotherapist.

The control group will receive a brochure containing lifestyle and bladder health recommendations but will not engage in any structured exercise program.

Detailed Description

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Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined by the International Continence Society as involuntary urine leakage due to insufficient urethral closure pressure during episodes of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or physical activity. The continence mechanism involves intrinsic urethral closure, structural support of the urethra, and lumbopelvic stability. These components are interconnected through the endopelvic fascia and neural pathways.

The core musculature-including the diaphragm, transversus abdominis (TrA), pelvic floor muscles, and lumbar multifidus-functions synergistically within the myofascial system to regulate IAP. This coordination is essential for maintaining the optimal function of genitourinary organs, especially the bladder.

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) targets this integrated spinal stabilization system. DNS exercises are based on developmental kinesiology principles, comparing adult stabilization patterns to those of healthy infants. The goal is to retrain the neuromuscular system through repetitive, functional movements to restore automatic IAP regulation and trunk stability.

Although DNS has demonstrated clinical effectiveness in managing musculoskeletal disorders, cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, and athletic injuries, its role in the management of SUI remains underexplored. By promoting synchronous activation of the deep stabilizers-including the diaphragm, TrA, multifidus, and pelvic floor-DNS may offer a more comprehensive therapeutic approach than isolated pelvic floor muscle training.

In this context, the main questions of this study it aims to answer are:

Does Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) training have an effect on pelvic floor muscle function, pelvic floor morphometry, symptoms, quality of life, sexual function, and physical activity levels in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI)? Does Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT) improve pelvic floor muscle function, pelvic floor morphometry, symptoms, quality of life, sexual function, and physical activity levels in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI)? Is there a difference between DNS exercises and PFMT in terms of their effects on pelvic floor muscle function, pelvic floor morphometry, symptoms, quality of life, sexual function, and physical activity levels before and after treatment in women with SUI?

Conditions

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Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Muscle Morphology Urinary Symptoms Quality of Life

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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DNS group

Women aged 18-65 who have stress or stress-dominant mixed urinary incontinence. They are followed up for 12 weeks, consisting of 2 days/week face-to-face training sessions with the physiotherapist and 5 days/week sessions conducted by themselves.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Training

Intervention Type OTHER

According to the principles of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), proper activation of the integrated spinal stabilization system requires that the abdominal muscles expand not only in the caudal direction but also posteriorly and laterally.Therefore, firstly, the physiotherapist will assess the expansion of the entire abdominal wall and teach the patient to regulate intra-abdominal pressure through correct breathing techniques. During training and exercises, a belt will be used. Participants will be instructed to maintain abdominal expansion toward the belt during exercises performed in positions supported by proper alignment. A four-phase exercise protocol based on developmental kinesiology principles will be implemented for the DNS group, beginning with supine-position exercises appropriate for the 3-month developmental stage.

They will be instructed to repeat the exercises at least three times per day.Patients will record their home exercise program using an exercise diary.

PFMT group

Women aged 18-65 who have stress or stress-dominant mixed urinary incontinence. They are followed up for 12 weeks, consisting of 2 days/week face-to-face training sessions with the physiotherapist and 5 days/week sessions conducted by themselves.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in the PFMT group will undergo a structured pelvic floor muscle training program supervised by a physiotherapist. The training will include verbal and manual instructions to ensure correct identification and isolated activation of the pelvic floor muscles without compensatory movements from the gluteal, abdominal, or thigh muscles using a NeuroTrac Simplex EMG-Biofeedback device.

The exercise protocol will consist of both slow and fast contractions, focusing on endurance, strength, and coordination.

The exercises will be performed in various positions (e.g., supine, sitting, standing) and will gradually progress in intensity and complexity over time, following the principles of motor learning stages. They will be instructed to repeat the exercises at least three times per day. Patients will record their home exercise program using an exercise diary.

Control

Receiving patient education only and no exercise was applied to the subjects included in the control group.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Training

According to the principles of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), proper activation of the integrated spinal stabilization system requires that the abdominal muscles expand not only in the caudal direction but also posteriorly and laterally.Therefore, firstly, the physiotherapist will assess the expansion of the entire abdominal wall and teach the patient to regulate intra-abdominal pressure through correct breathing techniques. During training and exercises, a belt will be used. Participants will be instructed to maintain abdominal expansion toward the belt during exercises performed in positions supported by proper alignment. A four-phase exercise protocol based on developmental kinesiology principles will be implemented for the DNS group, beginning with supine-position exercises appropriate for the 3-month developmental stage.

They will be instructed to repeat the exercises at least three times per day.Patients will record their home exercise program using an exercise diary.

Intervention Type OTHER

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

Participants in the PFMT group will undergo a structured pelvic floor muscle training program supervised by a physiotherapist. The training will include verbal and manual instructions to ensure correct identification and isolated activation of the pelvic floor muscles without compensatory movements from the gluteal, abdominal, or thigh muscles using a NeuroTrac Simplex EMG-Biofeedback device.

The exercise protocol will consist of both slow and fast contractions, focusing on endurance, strength, and coordination.

The exercises will be performed in various positions (e.g., supine, sitting, standing) and will gradually progress in intensity and complexity over time, following the principles of motor learning stages. They will be instructed to repeat the exercises at least three times per day. Patients will record their home exercise program using an exercise diary.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Female participants aged between 18 and 65 years
* Diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence or stress-dominant mixed urinary incontinence by a specialist physician
* Having the ability to voluntarily contract the pelvic floor muscles
* Literate in Turkish
* Willing and voluntarily consenting to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnancy
* Presence of urgency-predominant urinary incontinence symptoms or fecal incontinence
* Inability to understand or cooperate with assessment procedures
* Presence of any neurological or rheumatological disease
* Severe cardiac or pulmonary disease
* Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension
* Chronic liver and/or kidney failure
* Advanced pelvic organ prolapse (greater than grade 2)
* History of abdominal or pelvic surgery (including cesarean section) within the past year
* History of spinal surgery
* Current urinary tract infection
* History of pelvic radiation therapy
* Presence of spinal deformity
* History of acute low back pain within the past 4-6 weeks
* Receiving pelvic floor muscle training within the past three months
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Izmir Katip Celebi University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Sevtap Günay

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Ayse Kardelen ACAR, MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Izmir Katıp Celebi University, Institute of Health Sciences

Sevtap GUNAY UCURUM, Associate Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Izmir Katıp Celebi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Ahmet Ozgur YENIEL, Professor

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Locations

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Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Izmir, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

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Sevtap GUNAY UCURUM, Associate Professor

Role: CONTACT

+90 232 3293535/4717

Facility Contacts

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Ayse Kardelen ACAR, MSc

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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DYNAPELVIS-SUI2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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