The purpose of this clinical trial is to compare the Emsella Chair to sham and to determine whether electromagnetic technology is effective in the treatment of fecal incontinence. Currently there are no other studies utilizing the Emsella Chair for the treatment of fecal incontinence. Eligible subjects will receive 2 treatments per week for a total of 4 weeks.
Fecal incontinence, no matter how frequent, may significantly affect a patient's quality of life. Current available treatment options include; establishing a bowel regimen that consists of supplements, over the counter medications (stool softeners, laxatives, anti-diarrheal, enemas), or utilizing other prescription drugs (Linzees, Lomotil). Other conservative treatments include biofeedback therapy with a physical therapist. More invasive procedures include the injection of bulking agents or sacral nerve stimulation implantation. The Emsella chair is currently approved as a treatment for stress urinary incontinence. The Emsella chair generates electromagnetic stimulation which is able to penetrate deep into the pelvic floor muscles inducing stimulation and providing rehabilitation for weak pelvic floor muscles. The Emsella Chair is a novel high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology for the treatment of SUI, in addition to other pelvic floor related disorders. HIFEM technology induces deep pelvic floor muscle contractions designed to deliver the equivalent of 11,200 Kegel exercises over 28 minutes. Subjects meeting eligibility will be randomized (1:1) to receive treatment with the Emsella chair and dietary counseling or sham Emsella chair with dietary counseling. A total of 8 treatments (2 treatments per week for 4 weeks) will be completed. For treatment delivery, participants will sit on the device and the chair height will be adjusted to ensure the subject's feet are on the floor. The sham Emsella treatment will provide some sensation without active HIFEM technology.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Subjects will be asked to sit on the device and the height will be adjusted until the subject's feet are on the floor. The active treatments are individualized, since some subjects will be more sensitive than others. The Emsella Chair will be turned on and the setting gradually increased to the subject's sensory threshold; the maximum sensation the subject can tolerate. The setting will then be decreased slightly and stay unchanged for the remainder of the treatment time. The treatment threshold should be increased with every treatment until the subject reaches 100%.
Sham subjects will be seated on the device in the same manner as the active treatment group. The sham treatment will provide some sensation without active HIFEM technology. The programming for the sham treatment will have an amplitude limitation, with the setting below the therapeutic level ( \< 10 % power).
Beaumont Hospital-Royal Oak
Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
compare the efficacy of Emsella Chair to sham by evaluating the responder rate, where a subject is called a responder if there is ≥ 50% reduction from baseline in the number fecal incontinence episodes reported over 7 days on the bowel diary.
Compare the efficacy of Emsella Chair to sham by evaluating the total number of fecal incontinence episodes reported in a bowel diary. Subjects will complete a 7 day bowel diary and record the number and consistency of bowel movements.
Time frame: 4 weeks after completing all treatments
Efficacy of Emsella chair vs. sham Emsella in relation to the change in quality of life (QoL) score as measured by the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (Wexner).
Compare the efficacy of the Emsella Chair versus sham in relation to the change in patient quality of life (QoL) score as measured by the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence score (Wexner). Subjects will report if their lifestyle is altered by incontinence, degree of occurrence is measured as 0 = never, 1 = rarely, 2 = sometimes, 3 = usually, 4 = always. High score = poor quality of life.
Time frame: 4 weeks after completing primary endpoint visit
Efficacy of Emsella chair vs. sham Emsella in relation to the change in quality of life (QoL) score as measured by the Fecal Incontinence Quality of life scale (FIQOL).
Compare the efficacy of the Emsella Chair versus sham in relation to the change in patient quality of life (QoL) score as measured by the FIQOL. Scales range from 1 to 4; with a 1 indicating a lower functional status of quality of life. Scales are divided into the following categories lifestyle, coping/behavior, depression/self perception, and embarrassment.
Time frame: 4 weeks after completing primary endpoint visit
Efficacy of Emsella chair vs. sham Emsella in relation to the change in Fecal Incontinence severity as measured by the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (Wexner).
Compare the efficacy of the Emsella Chair versus sham in relation to the change in patient FI score as measured by the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence score (Wexner). The type of incontinence of stool (solid, liquid, gas, wears pad, lifestyle altered) are reported by the subject. Each question is measured as; 0 = never, 1 = rarely, 2 = sometimes, 3 = usually, 4 = always. The higher the score the more severe the condition.
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Time frame: 4 weeks after completing primary endpoint visit
Efficacy of Emsella chair vs. sham Emsella in relation to the change in self-reported impression of Fecal Incontinence severity.
The change in self-reported impression of Fecal Incontinence severity as measured by the Patient Global Impression of Severity Scale (PGI-S). Subjects will check the box that describes how their condition is now. The available options are 1 =normal, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, or 4 = severe. A higher score indicates a poorer outcome.
Time frame: 4 weeks after completing primary endpoint visit
Efficacy of Emsella chair vs. sham Emsella in relation to the change in subject-reported impression of Fecal Incontinence improvement.
The change in subject-reported impression of Fecal Incontinence improvement as measured by the Patient Global Impression of Improvement Scale (PGI-I). The subject will select one of the following options, (1 = very much better, 2 = much better, 3 = a little better, 4 = no change, 5 = a little worse, 6 = much worse, 7 = very much worse) to describe fecal incontinence symptoms now versus to prior to study treatment. A higher score indicates worsening of symptoms and poorer outcome.
Time frame: 4 weeks after completing all treatments
Durability of this study to determine whether subjects in the Emsella Chair group continue to have a higher responder rate than the Sham group.
Responders will be subjects that report positive outcomes (i.e. improvement in symptoms and decreased frequency of occurrence of symptoms) in the previously mentioned outcome measures.
Time frame: 4 weeks after completing all treatments
Determine the safety and tolerability of the Emsella Chair versus sham through the incidence of Treatment-Emergent adverse events
Safety and tolerability will be assessed in relation to the incidence of treatment- emergent adverse events reported.
Time frame: 4 weeks after completing all treatments