Impact of Pilates Exercises on Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction.
PilatesDED2025
1 other identifier
interventional
60
1 country
2
Brief Summary
Erectile dysfunction (ED) has a prevalence of 52.5% in diabetic male patients, as described in a meta-analysis of 145 studies, including 88,577 men with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In men, ED can cause sexual dissatisfaction and distress, unsatisfactory relationships, and marital tension
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started Dec 2025
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
2 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
December 8, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
December 15, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
December 19, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 1, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 30, 2026
January 5, 2026
December 1, 2025
6 months
December 8, 2025
December 30, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
penile perfusion
Colour-coded duplex sonography (5-10 MHz probes) will be used for the evaluation of penile perfusion. Half ml of a vasoactive agent (trimix solution) will be injected into the corpus cavernosum. The systolic and diastolic velocities (cm/s) will be performed at 10 and 30 min for both cavernous artery. Re-dosing with 0.5 ml of trimax solution will be performed for patients who did not achieve adequate hardness. The highest values obtained will be recorded. The following Doppler indices of the right and left cavernous arteries: peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index (RI) will be recorded.
Base line and after 12 weeks
Secondary Outcomes (1)
International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scale.
Baseline and after 12 weeks
Study Arms (2)
Experimental
EXPERIMENTALstudy group
Active comparator
ACTIVE COMPARATORcontrol
Interventions
Pilates protocol that will be used in the present study consisted of 11 different Pilates postures: Pilates Breathing, Spine Stretch, Swan, Shoulder Bridge, Hundreds, Double Leg Stretch, Footwork, Roll up, Single Leg Stretch, Leg Pull Back, Kick front and back. It will be performed thrice a week, with each session lasting 60 minutes, for 12 weeks, totaling 36 sessions. The progression of the exercises will be based on increasing the number of repetitions of the exercise, and variations in posture from beginner to intermediate and advanced, for each exercise. The movements will be repeated six to eight times each.
The pelvic floor exercises will be taught by a skilled physiotherapist who instructed the men to tighten their pelvic floor muscles as strongly as possible (as if to prevent flatus from escaping), to gain muscle hypertrophy. During pelvic floor muscle training attention was placed on the ability to retract the penis and lift the scrotum, to make sure the bulbocavernosus and ischiocavernosus muscles were working strongly. Emphasis was placed on gaining a few maximum contractions (three when lying, three sitting, and three standing) twice daily rather than prolonged repetitions. Some submaximal pelvic floor work will be advised while walking, to increase muscle endurance. Men will be also taught to tighten their pelvic floor muscles strongly after voiding urine whilst still poised over the toilet, as a way of working the bulbocavernosus muscle to eliminate the urine from the bulbar urethra. Frequency of treatment: Treatment will be given 3 times / week for 12 weeks total of 36 session
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Men aged 40-60 years.
- Diagnosed diabetes mellitus (type 2) ≥ 1 year.
- Clinical diagnosis of erectile dysfunction for ≥ 6 months, confirmed by IIEF5 score.
- Stable antidiabetic medications for ≥ 3 months prior to randomization.
- HbA1c between 6.5% and 10.0%.
- Sexually active or attempting sexual activity at least occasionally (at least once monthly) and willing to attempt intercourse during study.
- Able and willing to participate in the exercise program (physically capable and available for scheduled sessions) and provide written informed consent.
You may not qualify if:
- Severe cardiovascular disease within past 6 months (e.g., recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, decompensated heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmia) that contraindicates exercise.
- Uncontrolled hypertension (e.g., systolic ≥ 180 mmHg or diastolic ≥ 110 mmHg) despite treatment.
- Severe peripheral vascular disease or other conditions preventing safe exercise (severe claudication, severe orthopedic limitations).
- History of pelvic surgery or pelvic radiation within the last 12 months that could acutely affect erectile function.
- Primary neurogenic causes of ED unrelated to diabetes (spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis).
- Major psychiatric illness or severe cognitive impairment interfering with consent/compliance .
- Current substance abuse or heavy alcohol use that could affect sexual function or compliance.
- Severe hypogonadism requiring imminent testosterone therapy (total testosterone \< 8 nmol/L with symptoms).
- Active genitourinary infection or untreated severe sexual dysfunction disorders other than ED.
- Use of medications known to cause ED that cannot be discontinued or stabilized.
- Current participation in structured pelvic floor or sexual-function exercise program similar to the intervention.
- Recent (within 4 weeks) or planned changes in PDE5i therapy.
- Any medical condition making participation unsafe or likely to confound outcomes per investigator judgment.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Benha Universitylead
- Ahram Canadian Universitycollaborator
Study Sites (2)
Outpatient clinic, faculty of Physical Therapy, Benha university
Banhā, Benha, Egypt
Outpatient clinic, faculty of Physical Therapy, Ahram Canadian university
Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT
- Masking Details
- Single (Participant) This is a parallel group randomized controlled trial with two arms receiving different interventions.
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
December 8, 2025
First Posted
December 19, 2025
Study Start
December 15, 2025
Primary Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
June 30, 2026
Last Updated
January 5, 2026
Record last verified: 2025-12