Exploring the Benefits of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Bladder, Bowel, and Sexual Function in People With Spinal Cord Injury

University of British Columbia30 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this trial is to learn about the feasibility and benefits of delivering a pelvic floor muscle training program to people with motor-incomplete spinal cord injury. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. To evaluate the feasibility of delivering a pelvic floor muscle training program to people with spinal cord injury. The investigators will examine recruitment rate, compliance and adherence to the intervention and other study protocols, adverse events, and participant perspectives of the study protocols. 2. To explore the potential effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor, bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Participants will be asked to complete a pelvic floor muscle training program for 3 months. At the beginning, middle, and end of the program, researchers will conduct a series of tests to determine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of this program.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injury

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 19 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Are at least 19 years of age. * Have a non-progressive, motor-incomplete spinal cord injury that is at or above the T12 neurological level at least 12 months ago. * Have symptoms of bladder, bowel, and/or sexual dysfunction that are caused by your spinal cord injury. * Have stable management of spinal cord related secondary health concerns (e.g., spasticity, neuropathic pain). * Are able to speak and understand English. Exclusion Criteria: * Are currently pregnant, have been pregnant within the past 6 months, or are planning to become pregnant in the next 6 months. * Have had urogenital surgery within the past 12 months. * Have received Botox bladder injections within the past 4 weeks, or anticipate receiving an injection in the next 6 months. * Have presence of severe medical issue that in the investigator's judgement would adversely affect the participant's participation in the study. Examples include, but are not limited to pressure sores, cardiovascular disease, and unmanaged diabetes. * Have any permanent metal fixtures in their head (excluding dental fillings), or pacemakers, stimulators, or implanted medication pumps. * Have a history of seizures, are taking medications that lower the seizure threshold, or experience recurring headaches. * Have a condition for which exercise is contraindicated.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Feasibility - Recruitment Rate

Recruitment rate will be evaluated by number of participants approached, screened for eligibility, as well as reasons for exclusions.

Time frame: Through study completion, up to 12 weeks

Feasibility - Compliance

Compliance will be tracked by the adherence of participants to the prescribed exercise program, with reasons for missed sessions or drop-outs noted.

Time frame: Through study completion, up to 12 weeks

Feasibility - Adverse Events

Any adverse events to study protocols will be recorded.

Time frame: Through study completion, up to 12 weeks

Feasibility - Acceptability

The acceptability of the intervention will be evaluated using a 7-point Likert scale to rate participants' enjoyment of the exercise program and whether they felt the program was beneficial for improving their bladder, bowel, and/or sexual function.

Time frame: Through study completion, up to 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QoL)

Participants will be asked to respond to 22 questions about how urinary incontinence impacts their quality of life using a 5-point scale with values ranging from 1 (extremely) to 5 (not at all). The questionnaire probes three subdomains of how incontinence may affect quality of life: avoidance and limiting behavior, psychosocial impact, and social embarrassment.