A Mobile Application for Female Athletes with Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions (ACTITUD2.0)

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Pelvic Floor Disorders

• Registration Number: NCT06814743
• Lead Sponsor: University of the Balearic Islands

Brief Summary

Pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFD) are especially prevalent among females. As conservative management, strengthening pelvic floor (PF) musculature under health supervision, regard an important research line. However, embarrassment of female athletes limits healthcare demands. New technologies could facilitate an autonomous but supervised tele-rehabilitation programs.

This study will evaluate the effects of a 12-weeks program with exercises focused on PF awareness and strengthening by using a mobile application supervised by physiotherapists, with or without intracavitary biofeedback, on the PF anatomical and functional characteristics, symptomatology and sports performance of female athletes with PFD.

To this end, 105 female athletes with self-reported PFD who train and compete in sport in Spain will be recruited and randomly distributed in three groups of the experimental study. During 12 weeks, all participants will use the mobile application (named ACTITUD): the control group (CG) will have access to information about PF and direct communication with healthcare team; experimental group 1 (EG1) will have access to the same information and communication, and will perform a the exercise program for PF; the experimental group 2 (EG2) will be similar to EG1, but they will use an intravaginal biofeedback device during exercises to receive information about their intra-vaginal pressure.

Before and after these 12 weeks, anatomical and functional PF characteristics, PF symptoms and sports performance of all participants will be evaluated. As additional outcome, the compliance of the athletes from experimental groups to complete the training program will be registered (in %).

Detailed Description

Female athletes from EG1 and EG2 will complete the exercise program for PF three times per week, during 12 weeks. Each session will last about 20 minutes and exercises will be modified every two weeks to meet the principle of training progression and avoid athletes become bored.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-01-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-05
• Study Start: 2025-02-10
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-25
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-30
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-30
• Study Completion: 2025-07-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 105

Inclusion Criteria

• To train and compete in any sport.
• To have a self-reported pelvic floor disorder (urinary incontinence, anorectal incontinence, sexual dysfunction or chronic pelvic pain).

Exclusion Criteria

• To have recurrent infections of urinary tract during the last three months.
• To be receiving physiotherapy treatment due to any pelvic floor disorder at the moment of the start of the study.
• To have been pregnant during the year prior to the start of the study.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Functional characteristics of pelvic floor musculature	12 weeks	Change in the pelvic floor strength according to the modified grading Oxford Scale (graded from 0 - minimal strength- to 5 points - maximal strength) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. To assess it, the evaluator will insert the first two phalanges of the second and third fingers smeared in lubricant gel with a gloved hand into the anterior third of the vaginal opening and will request a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) by giving the command "contract the anus, do as if you wanted to hold a strong desire to void".
Functional characteristics of pelvic floor musculature with manometry I	12 weeks	Change in the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) according to the values of pressure collected by a manometer (in cmH20) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. To assess it, participants will perform a maximal contraction of pelvic floor musculature during 3 seconds (two trials with 30 seconds apart). The best trial (the highest pressure) will be collected.
Functional characteristics of pelvic floor musculature with manometry II	12 weeks	Change in the vaginal pressure at rest (in cmH20) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. To assess it, the probe of the manometer will be covered with a lubricated condom and placed about 3.5 cm proximal to the vaginal introitus, without pain or discomfort. The air in the probe will be emptied before being inserted into the vagina introitus and vaginal pressure at rest will be registered.
Functional characteristics of pelvic floor musculature with manometry III	12 weeks	Change in the proprioceptive error during a force sense test (Proprioception) according to the values of pressure collected by a manometer (in cmH20) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. To assess it, participants will perform a contraction of pelvic floor musculature at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) (TARGET) during 3 seconds (two trials with 10 seconds apart). The difference between the average of the two trials and the target value will be the proprioceptive error (in %).
Anatomical characteristics of pelvic floor structures with ultrasound I	12 weeks	Change in the levator hiatus length (in mm) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. This variable will be assessed by using transperineal approach with transducer in longitudinal orientation, at three different functional situations: at rest, while participants perform a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the pelvic floor musculature, and also at straining.
Anatomical characteristics of pelvic floor structures with ultrasound II	12 weeks	Change in the anorectal angle (in degrees) and pubourethral angle (in degrees) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. These variables will be assessed by using transperineal approach with transducer in longitudinal orientation, at three different functional situations: at rest, while participants perform a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the pelvic floor musculature, and also at straining.
Anatomical characteristics of pelvic floor structures with ultrasound III	12 weeks	Change in the symmetry of the bladder base (in mm) at rest and bladder base displacement (in mm) while participants perform a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the pelvic floor musculature and also during straining, after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. These variables will be assessed by using a transabdominal approach with transducer, in transverse orientation.
Sports performance through maximal vertical jump I	12 weeks	Change in the maximal height that athletes reach with a vertical jump (in meters) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. To assess it, participants will perform a maximal countermovement jump (three trials with 60 seconds apart). It will be collected the best of the three trials.
Sports performance through maximal vertical jump II	12 weeks	Change in the maximal ground reaction forces during a vertical jump (in Newton) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. To assess it, participants will perform a maximal countermovement jump (three trials with 60 seconds apart). It will be collected the best of the three trials.
Occurrence of urinary incontinence symptomatology	12 weeks	Change in self-reported pelvic floor symptoms regarding urinary incontinence, assessed through the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short form (ICIQ-SF) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. To this end, athletes will reply the proposed tool consisting of 3 questions, with a total score of 21 points. Scoring 0 points will mean that athletes do not have urinary incontinence; score between 1 and 21 will mean a progressively more severe urinary incontinence.
Sexual dysfunction symptomatology	12 weeks	Change in self-reported sexual dysfunction symptoms (orgasm and pain domains of the Female Sexual Function Index - FSFI), after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. The score of each domain is rated from 1 (the worst sexual function) to 15 points (the best sexual function)
Occurrence of ano-rectal incontinence	12 weeks	Change in self-reported pelvic floor symptoms regarding ano-rectal incontinence, assessed through the Wexner Scale, after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups. To this end, athletes will reply the proposed tool consisting of 5 questions ranging from 0 (never incontinent) to 4 (always incontinent). A score of 0 points will mean that athletes do not have ano-rectal incontinence. Results in the score from 1 to 20 will mean ano-rectal incontinence progressively more severe.
Level of quality of life	12 weeks	It will be explore the change in quality of life due to the pelvic floor disorders symptoms (according to a scale from 0, no affection, to 10, maximal affection) after the intervention period and compared to the athletes from the rest of groups.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Compliance to the proposed pelvic floor exercise program	12 weeks	Percentage of exercises program sessions that athletes from experimental groups 1 and 2 completed during the 12 weeks of intervention, according to the number of proposed sessions (three times per week).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Palma de Mallorca; 🇪🇸 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain