The Effects of Kegel Exercise Combined With Biofeedback Therapy on Bowel Function Recovery, Emotional Distress, and Quality of Life in Patients Following Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer

NCT ID: NCT07253298

Last Updated: 2025-11-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 66 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-12-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-01-31

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of combining Kegel exercise with a single biofeedback session on bowel function, emotional distress, and quality of life in patients who have undergone low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer. Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is a common postoperative complication following LAR, characterized by increased stool frequency, urgency, and incontinence, which can significantly impair patients' psychological well-being and daily quality of life. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) Kegel exercise combined with one non-invasive biofeedback session, or (2) Kegel exercise alone. Both groups will perform home-based Kegel exercises for eight weeks. The study aims to determine whether the combined biofeedback and Kegel exercise intervention results in greater improvements in bowel control, emotional well-being, and quality of life compared with Kegel exercise alone.

Detailed Description

Background:

Patients who undergo low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer often experience low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), characterized by frequent bowel movements, urgency, and incontinence. These symptoms can cause considerable psychological distress and impair daily functioning. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT, commonly known as Kegel exercise) is a widely used bowel rehabilitation method; however, its effectiveness depends on patients' ability to perform the exercises correctly. Biofeedback therapy (BFT) provides real-time visual and auditory feedback to help patients better control pelvic floor muscle contractions and relaxations, thereby improving training precision.

Objective:

To examine whether combining a single biofeedback intervention with Kegel exercise produces greater improvements in bowel function, emotional distress, and quality of life than Kegel exercise alone in patients after low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Methods:

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial (IRB No. 202502004RINB) to be conducted at National Taiwan University Hospital. A total of 66 eligible participants who have completed at least four weeks after LAR will be recruited. Participants will be randomized (1:1) into experimental and control groups using block randomization with block sizes of 4, 6, or 8.

The experimental group will receive one 30-minute session of non-invasive electromyographic biofeedback training to correct pelvic floor muscle contraction and relaxation techniques, followed by Kegel exercise instruction. The control group will receive only verbal instruction and demonstration of Kegel exercises without the use of biofeedback devices.

Both groups will continue home-based Kegel exercises for eight weeks, with a total follow-up period of twelve weeks. Assessments will be conducted at four time points: baseline (T0), 4 weeks (T1), 8 weeks (T2), and 12 weeks (T3).

Outcome Measures:

Primary outcome: Low Anterior Resection Syndrome Score (LARS Score). Secondary outcomes: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF Taiwan version (WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version).

Expected Results:

The experimental group (Kegel exercise combined with single-session biofeedback) is expected to demonstrate greater improvements in bowel function, reduced emotional distress, and enhanced quality of life compared with the Kegel-only group.

Significance:

This study aims to establish a low-cost, non-invasive, and feasible postoperative rehabilitation approach to enhance bowel recovery and improve the quality of life in patients after rectal cancer surgery.

Conditions

Rectal Cancer; Low Anterior Resection Syndrome; LARS - Low Anterior Resection Syndrome

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Kegel Exercise with Biofeedback Therapy

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Kegel Exercise with Biofeedback

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A single 30-minute non-invasive EMG biofeedback session will guide participants to correctly contract and relax pelvic floor muscles using real-time visual and auditory feedback. Conducted by trained healthcare staff in the physical therapy center, with additional outpatient or ward instruction if needed. After the session, participants perform home-based Kegel exercises for 8 weeks (3-5 times/day, 6-8 contractions/set, hold 5-10 sec, relax 10 sec, ≥5 days/week). Research staff will follow up every 1-2 weeks by phone to monitor adherence and adjust intensity. If stable 5-sec contractions are achieved, duration or frequency may increase; if fatigue, abdominal pressure, or discomfort occurs, training will be reduced or paused for safety.

Kegel Exercise Only

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Kegel Exercise Only

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the control group will receive a single 30-minute session of verbal instruction and demonstration on Kegel exercise by trained medical personnel, without the use of any biofeedback device. The provider, setting, duration, exercise dosage, and follow-up schedule are identical to those in the experimental group.

Interventions

Kegel Exercise with Biofeedback

A single 30-minute non-invasive EMG biofeedback session will guide participants to correctly contract and relax pelvic floor muscles using real-time visual and auditory feedback. Conducted by trained healthcare staff in the physical therapy center, with additional outpatient or ward instruction if needed. After the session, participants perform home-based Kegel exercises for 8 weeks (3-5 times/day, 6-8 contractions/set, hold 5-10 sec, relax 10 sec, ≥5 days/week). Research staff will follow up every 1-2 weeks by phone to monitor adherence and adjust intensity. If stable 5-sec contractions are achieved, duration or frequency may increase; if fatigue, abdominal pressure, or discomfort occurs, training will be reduced or paused for safety.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Kegel Exercise Only

Participants in the control group will receive a single 30-minute session of verbal instruction and demonstration on Kegel exercise by trained medical personnel, without the use of any biofeedback device. The provider, setting, duration, exercise dosage, and follow-up schedule are identical to those in the experimental group.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Kegel Exercise with Biofeedback (Kegel + BFT); Kegel Exercise

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients who have undergone their first low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer, or LAR with temporary stoma reversal at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
• Age ≥ 18 years.
• Hemodynamically stable with stable vital signs.
• Conscious, able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese, and capable of following verbal instructions to perform exercises.

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of a current intestinal stoma.
• Implanted cardiac pacemaker.
• Scheduled to receive postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.
• History of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression).
• Postoperative complications such as anastomotic leakage, intra-abdominal infection, or fistula formation.
• Unable to cooperate with or complete biofeedback training.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Taiwan University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Central Contacts

Chia Lin Hsu, RN, MSN-Candidate

Role: CONTACT

hsuchialin@ntuh.gov.tw

+886-2-2312-3456 ext. 267872

Kuei Fen Liu, RN, PhD

Role: CONTACT

kueifen@ntunhs.edu.tw

+886-2-2822-7101 ext. 3163

Other Identifiers

202502004RINB

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id