Core Muscle Strength, Endurance, and Balance in Women With Urinary Incontinence

NCT07127549 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: ssaka9
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as the involuntary loss of urine that occurs outside the individual's control and negatively affects both hygiene and social life. Research indicates that individuals with UI experience decreased core muscle strength and endurance, which may also lead to changes in balance parameters. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate core muscle strength, endurance, and balance parameters in women with UI, taking the type of UI into consideration. This study was conducted between January 2025 and April 2025 at the Urogynecology Clinic of Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital in Istanbul, with patients diagnosed with UI by a specialist physician. A total of 32 participants were included. All participants were administered a demographic assessment form; the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) to assess physical activity level; the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and all of its subscales to evaluate the severity of symptoms associated with pelvic floor distress; urodynamic measurement; a pad test to assess the severity of UI; a perineometer device to evaluate pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength; the Sahrmann five-level core stabilization test and the Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback Unit to assess core muscle strength; McGill's Trunk Endurance Tests for core endurance; and the Y Balance Test to assess balance.

Conditions

Urinary Incontinence

Keywords

urinary incontinence; core strength; core endurance; balance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Assessment of Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength

  a previously validated perineometer with good inter-rater reliability and reproducibility was used to assess pelvic floor muscle strength. a previously validated perineometer with good inter-rater reliability and reproducibility was used to assess pelvic floor muscle strength. A previously validated perineometer with good inter-rater reliability and reproducibility was used to assess pelvic floor muscle strength.

  At the day of enrollment

• Assessment of Urine Flow Rate and Volume

  A uroflowmetry device was used to assess urine flow rate and volume. A uroflowmetry device was used to assess urine flow rate and volume

  At the day of enrollment

• Assessment of Urinary Incontinence Severity

  A 1-hour pad test was used to determine the severity of urinary incontinence.

  At the day of enrollment

• Assessment of Core Muscle Strength

  The Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback Unit® (Chattanooga Medical Supply Inc., Chattanooga, TN) was used to determine the level of core stabilization.

  At the day of enrollment

• Assessment of Core Endurance and Stability

  The test protocol developed by McGill and colleagues was applied to measure core endurance.

  At the day of enrollment

• Balance Assessment

  The Y Balance Test was used to assess balance.

  At the day of enrollment

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF)

  At the day of enrollment

• Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20)

  At the day of enrollment

Interventions

Muscle strength, endurance and balance assessment OTHER

All participants were administered a demographic assessment form; the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) to assess physical activity level; the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and all of its subscales to evaluate the severity of symptoms associated with pelvic floor distress; urodynamic measurement; a pad test to assess the severity of UI; a perineometer device to evaluate pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength; the Sahrmann five-level core stabilization test and the Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback Unit to assess core muscle strength; McGill's Trunk Endurance Tests for core endurance; and the Y Balance Test to assess balance.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 35 Years - 55 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: female
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients who applied to the Urogynecology Clinic at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital and were diagnosed with urinary incontinence by a specialist physician constitute the population of the study. The sample of the study consists of 32 women from this population who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study.

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosed with urinary incontinence by a specialist physician
• Native Turkish speaker
• Willing to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnant
• Given birth within the past year
• Cooperation problems
• Presence of urinary infection
• Diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) stage higher than 2
• History of pelvic surgery
• Presence of dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, or ear fullness (uncontrolled vestibulopathies)
• Use of medications that affect balance
• Resistance to digital vaginal palpation or insertion of a perineometer into the vagina
• Orthopedic, cognitive, cardiac, or neurological conditions that may prevent participation in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Seda Saka: lead

Study Sites (1)

Halic University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Urinary Incontinence

Interventions

Muscle Strength

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Urination Disorders; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Urological Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Examination; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 1 Day
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator, PhD, PT

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 11, 2025
• First Posted: August 17, 2025
• Study Start: January 27, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 21, 2025
• Study Completion: July 20, 2025
• Last Updated: August 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

TU (1)