Impact of Pilate Exercises on Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction.

NCT ID: NCT07293156

Last Updated: 2025-12-29

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-15

Study Completion Date

2026-06-30

Brief Summary

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Erectile dysfunction (ED) has a prevalence of 52.5% in diabetic male patients, as described in a meta-analysis of 145 studies, including 88,577 men with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

In men, ED can cause sexual dissatisfaction and distress, unsatisfactory relationships, and marital tension

Detailed Description

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Pilates emerged as a method of rehabilitation during World War I, when Joseph Hubertus Pilates applied his knowledge to rehabilitate injured men. The popularity of the method grew most in the 1980. More recently, Pilates has been used resulting in improved fitness (flexibility, strength and balance) and body consciousness. The method features ground-based exercises created by Joseph Pilates.

Because most Pilates exercises are performed in conjunction with the recruitment of PF muscle fibres, many Pilates instructors believe that the method can produce a significant increase in the force or contractility of the muscles. Furthermore, if Pilates promotes an improvement in the functioning of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), it may be an alternative for the treatment and prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Up till now, no published trials about impact of Pilate exercises on diabetic erectile dysfunction.

A total of 60 patients (n=30 per group), diagnosed with diabetic erectile dysfunction in the past 6 months. Participants will be recruited from Benha University hospital and local andrology and urology clinics in benha and giza . Participants will be screened for eligibility prior to being enrolled in the study participating in the study assessments.

Conditions

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Diabete Mellitus Erectile Dysfunction Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Pilates Exercise Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise

Keywords

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Diabete Mellitus Erectile dysfunction Pilates exercises Pelvic floor exercises

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Interventional
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
Single (Participant) This is a parallel group randomized controlled trial with two arms receiving different interventions.

Study Groups

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Experimental

study group

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Pilate Exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

Pilates protocol that will be used in the present study consisted of 11 different Pilates postures: Pilates Breathing, Spine Stretch, Swan, Shoulder Bridge, Hundreds, Double Leg Stretch, Footwork, Roll up, Single Leg Stretch, Leg Pull Back, Kick front and back. It will be performed thrice a week, with each session lasting 60 minutes, for 12 weeks, totaling 36 sessions. The progression of the exercises will be based on increasing the number of repetitions of the exercise, and variations in posture from beginner to intermediate and advanced, for each exercise. The movements will be repeated six to eight times each.

Pelvic floor muscles exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

The pelvic floor exercises will be taught by a skilled physiotherapist who instructed the men to tighten their pelvic floor muscles as strongly as possible (as if to prevent flatus from escaping), to gain muscle hypertrophy. During pelvic floor muscle training attention was placed on the ability to retract the penis and lift the scrotum, to make sure the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles were working strongly. Emphasis was placed on gaining a few maximum contractions (three when lying, three sitting, and three standing) twice daily rather than prolonged repetitions. Some submaximal pelvic floor work will be advised while walking, to increase muscle endurance. Men will be also taught to tighten their pelvic floor muscles strongly after voiding urine whilst still poised over the toilet, as a way of working the bulbocavernosus muscle to eliminate the urine from the bulbar urethra.

Frequency of treatment: Treatment will be given 3 times / week for 12 weeks total of 36 session

Active comparator

control

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Pelvic floor muscles exercises

Intervention Type OTHER

The pelvic floor exercises will be taught by a skilled physiotherapist who instructed the men to tighten their pelvic floor muscles as strongly as possible (as if to prevent flatus from escaping), to gain muscle hypertrophy. During pelvic floor muscle training attention was placed on the ability to retract the penis and lift the scrotum, to make sure the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles were working strongly. Emphasis was placed on gaining a few maximum contractions (three when lying, three sitting, and three standing) twice daily rather than prolonged repetitions. Some submaximal pelvic floor work will be advised while walking, to increase muscle endurance. Men will be also taught to tighten their pelvic floor muscles strongly after voiding urine whilst still poised over the toilet, as a way of working the bulbocavernosus muscle to eliminate the urine from the bulbar urethra.

Frequency of treatment: Treatment will be given 3 times / week for 12 weeks total of 36 session

Interventions

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Pilate Exercises

Pilates protocol that will be used in the present study consisted of 11 different Pilates postures: Pilates Breathing, Spine Stretch, Swan, Shoulder Bridge, Hundreds, Double Leg Stretch, Footwork, Roll up, Single Leg Stretch, Leg Pull Back, Kick front and back. It will be performed thrice a week, with each session lasting 60 minutes, for 12 weeks, totaling 36 sessions. The progression of the exercises will be based on increasing the number of repetitions of the exercise, and variations in posture from beginner to intermediate and advanced, for each exercise. The movements will be repeated six to eight times each.

Intervention Type OTHER

Pelvic floor muscles exercises

The pelvic floor exercises will be taught by a skilled physiotherapist who instructed the men to tighten their pelvic floor muscles as strongly as possible (as if to prevent flatus from escaping), to gain muscle hypertrophy. During pelvic floor muscle training attention was placed on the ability to retract the penis and lift the scrotum, to make sure the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles were working strongly. Emphasis was placed on gaining a few maximum contractions (three when lying, three sitting, and three standing) twice daily rather than prolonged repetitions. Some submaximal pelvic floor work will be advised while walking, to increase muscle endurance. Men will be also taught to tighten their pelvic floor muscles strongly after voiding urine whilst still poised over the toilet, as a way of working the bulbocavernosus muscle to eliminate the urine from the bulbar urethra.

Frequency of treatment: Treatment will be given 3 times / week for 12 weeks total of 36 session

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Men aged 40-60 years.
2. Diagnosed diabetes mellitus (type 2) ≥ 1 year.
3. Clinical diagnosis of erectile dysfunction for ≥ 6 months, confirmed by IIEF5 score.
4. Stable antidiabetic medications for ≥ 3 months prior to randomization.
5. HbA1c between 6.5% and 10.0%.
6. Sexually active or attempting sexual activity at least occasionally (at least once monthly) and willing to attempt intercourse during study.
7. Able and willing to participate in the exercise program (physically capable and available for scheduled sessions) and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Severe cardiovascular disease within past 6 months (e.g., recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, decompensated heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmia) that contraindicates exercise.
2. Uncontrolled hypertension (e.g., systolic ≥ 180 mmHg or diastolic ≥ 110 mmHg) despite treatment.
3. Severe peripheral vascular disease or other conditions preventing safe exercise (severe claudication, severe orthopedic limitations).
4. History of pelvic surgery or pelvic radiation within the last 12 months that could acutely affect erectile function.
5. Primary neurogenic causes of ED unrelated to diabetes (spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis).
6. Major psychiatric illness or severe cognitive impairment interfering with consent/compliance .
7. Current substance abuse or heavy alcohol use that could affect sexual function or compliance.
8. Severe hypogonadism requiring imminent testosterone therapy (total testosterone \< 8 nmol/L with symptoms).
9. Active genitourinary infection or untreated severe sexual dysfunction disorders other than ED.
10. Use of medications known to cause ED that cannot be discontinued or stabilized.
11. Current participation in structured pelvic floor or sexual-function exercise program similar to the intervention.
12. Recent (within 4 weeks) or planned changes in PDE5i therapy.
13. Any medical condition making participation unsafe or likely to confound outcomes per investigator judgment.
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Ahram Canadian University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Benha University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Mahmoud Hamada Mohamed

Associate Professor of Physical Therapy

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Outpatient clinic, faculty of Physical Therapy, Benha university

Banhā, Benha, Egypt

Site Status RECRUITING

Outpatient clinic, faculty of Physical Therapy, Ahram Canadian university

Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Egypt

Central Contacts

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Mahmoud Hamada Mohamed Associate Professor, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 01096968910

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Mahmoud Hamada Mohamed Associate Professor, Ph.D

Role: primary

Ahmed Mounir Salama Associate Professor, Ph.D

Role: backup

Mohamed Mahmoud Dogha, Assistant Professor of Urology

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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Pilate Exercises for DED2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id