Physical Therapy After Endometriosis Excision

NCT ID: NCT07127783

Last Updated: 2025-10-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-28
• Study Completion Date: 2026-03-31

Brief Summary

This is a randomized controlled pilot study comparing a home pelvic floor physical therapy program to routine post-operative care for patients undergoing endometriosis excisional surgery without hysterectomy. Quality of life and endometriosis symptoms will be compared following the recovery period.

Detailed Description

This is a randomized controlled pilot study conducted at a single institution comparing a home pelvic floor physical therapy program to routine post-operative care for patients undergoing endometriosis excisional surgery without hysterectomy. Patients will be recruited from a referral gynecological surgery group specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain and endometriosis. The goal is to assess the role of the active recovery program on quality of life and on pain and endometriosis symptoms.

Subjects will be randomized to routine post-operative care or to a home physical therapy program, in which they will receive written instruct ions and videos of exercises to complete immediately after surgery. The home exercise program was developed by the Department of Urogynecology in conjunction with pelvic floor physical therapists, and includes videos created by the education communications division. Quality of life, pain score, and endometriosis symptoms will be assessed at their pre-operative appointment, and at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively.

Conditions

Endometriosis; Surgery

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Standard Postoperative Instructions

Participants will receive standard postoperative recovery instructions

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Postoperative Instructions

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Standard of care postoperative instructions covering incision care, pain control, dietary instructions, and emergency precautions. Also includes guidelines regarding pelvic rest and lifting restrictions.

Active Recovery

Participants will receive postoperative instructions to follow an active recovery protocol focused on increasing activity level, core strength exercises, and pelvic floor exercises focused on urinary and bowel symptoms. Exercises are to be completed twice per day for the 12 weeks following surgery.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active Recovery

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive postoperative instructions to follow an active recovery protocol focused on increasing activity level, core strength exercises, and pelvic floor exercises focused on urinary and bowel symptoms. Exercises are to be completed twice per day for the 12 weeks following surgery.

Interventions

Active Recovery

Participants will receive postoperative instructions to follow an active recovery protocol focused on increasing activity level, core strength exercises, and pelvic floor exercises focused on urinary and bowel symptoms. Exercises are to be completed twice per day for the 12 weeks following surgery.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Standard Postoperative Instructions

Standard of care postoperative instructions covering incision care, pain control, dietary instructions, and emergency precautions. Also includes guidelines regarding pelvic rest and lifting restrictions.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Premenopausal
• English speaking
• Undergoing endometriosis excision surgery without hysterectomy at Legacy Health with subspecialty-trained surgeons specializing in endometriosis care
• History of chronic pelvic pain (defined as >= 6 months of pain in the anatomic pelvis)
• Diagnosis of high tone pelvic floor dysfunction on examiniation
• Have access to reliable email and phone for study-related communication

Exclusion Criteria

• Non-English speaking
• Unable to consent
• Unable to sustain 30 minutes of moderate activity at baseline
• Uses a mobility assistive device at baseline
• Chronic opioid use
• No histologic diagnosis of endometriosis on surgical pathology
• Need for additional pelvic rest (>2 weeks) postoperatively
• Pregnancy or planning to pursue pregnancy or undergo fertility treatments within 12 weeks postoperatively

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Oregon Health and Science University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Jacqueline Wong

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Jacqueline Wong

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Oregon Health and Science University

Locations

Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Women's Health Research Unit Department of Ob/Gyn

Role: CONTACT

whru@ohsu.edu

503-494-3666

Facility Contacts

Women's Health Research Unit

Role: primary

whru@ohsu.edu

503-494-3666

Other Identifiers

STUDY00028168

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id