RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

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

This study is exploring if a special exercise program, called pelvic floor muscle training, can help people with spinal cord injuries. The main aim is to see if these exercises can improve control over bladder and bowel, as well as sexual health. Researchers will also check how easy it is for people to join and stick with the training, and gather their opinions. Participants will do these exercises for three months, and researchers will take measurements at the start, middle, and end to learn about the benefits and how practical the program is. It's a way to find new methods to help people live better with spinal cord injuries.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jun 2026

Estimated completion

31 Mar 2028

Spinal Cord Injury

What is this study about?

This study, called "Exploring the Benefits of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Bladder, Bowel, and Sexual Function in People With Spinal Cord Injury," is designed to understand if a specific type of exercise, called pelvic floor muscle training, could be helpful for people who have experienced a spinal cord injury. The pelvic floor muscles are like a hammock at the bottom of your pelvis that support your bladder, bowel, and womb (in women) and play a role in sexual function. When these muscles are strong, they can help control how your bladder and bowels work.

Researchers want to find out two main things. Firstly, they are checking how practical and easy it is to deliver this exercise program to people with spinal cord injuries. This means they will look at how many people join, how consistently they do the exercises, if there are any problems, and what participants think about the study. Secondly, the study aims to see if doing these exercises really helps improve bladder control, bowel function, and sexual well-being for participants.

By taking part, you would be helping researchers learn more about new ways to manage some common challenges faced by people with spinal cord injuries. The information gathered could lead to better support and treatment options in the future, helping more people lead fuller lives.

Key takeaways

This study explores pelvic floor exercises for spinal cord injury.
It aims to improve bladder, bowel, and sexual function.
Researchers will check how practical and helpful the exercises are.
Participation involves a 3-month exercise program with assessments.
You could help others with spinal cord injuries in the future.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be at least 19 years old. You must have a spinal cord injury that affects your movement but isn't getting worse over time, and it needs to have happened at least a year ago. It's important that your spinal cord injury is causing problems with your bladder, bowel, or sexual function. Also, any other health conditions related to your spinal cord injury, like muscle spasms or nerve pain, should be stable and well-managed.

There are also some reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you are pregnant, have been pregnant recently, or plan to get pregnant soon. You also can't have had certain surgeries in your genital or urinary areas in the last year, or have had certain bladder treatments recently or planned soon. If you have any metal implants in your head (not including dental fillings), or medical devices like pacemakers, or if you have a history of seizures or certain other serious medical conditions, this study might not be suitable for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 19 years old or older?
Do you have a stable spinal cord injury that affects your movement and happened at least a year ago?
Are you experiencing issues with your bladder, bowel, or sexual function because of your spinal cord injury?
Are any other health problems related to your spinal cord injury currently stable?
Are you not pregnant, haven't been in the last 6 months, and don't plan to be in the next 6 months?
Have you not had any urogenital surgery in the past year?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you'll be asked to follow a pelvic floor muscle training program for three months. Throughout these three months, researchers will have a few appointments with you. They will check in at the very beginning, in the middle, and again at the end of the program. During these visits, they will do a series of tests to understand how well the training is working and if it's easy for you to do. You won't be given any new medications for the study, and the entire program will last for three months.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer potential benefits, such as improved bladder, bowel, and sexual function. You would also be contributing to important research that could help many others with spinal cord injuries in the future. As with any exercise program, there's always a small chance of minor discomfort or strain, but very serious problems are rare. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Blusson Spinal Cord Centre
Verified postcode
Vancouver, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What are 'pelvic floor muscles'?

These are muscles at the bottom of your pelvis that support your bladder, bowel, and womb (for women). They help control when you pee or poo.

What does 'non-progressive, motor-incomplete spinal cord injury' mean?

It means your spinal cord injury affects your movement but isn't getting worse over time, and you still have some movement or feeling below the injury level.

How long will I be in the study?

The study involves a pelvic floor muscle training program that lasts for three months.

Will I have to take new medications?

No, this study focuses on exercise, not new medications.

What if I can't do all the exercises?

The researchers are also looking at how feasible the program is, so your experience and feedback are important. Discuss any difficulties with the study team.

How to find out more

Alison Williams

alison.williams@ubc.ca 604-675-8815 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.