Effect of Hypo-pressive Exercises and Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Postpartum Stress Urinary Incontinence Women

NCT07322328 | Active Not Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: DPT/ERB/29U1111-1332-3272
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Postpartum stress urinary incontinence is a widespread condition characterized by involuntary loss of urine during physical exertion, such as sneezing, coughing, or lifting heavy weights. Most frequently occur in multiparous women with vaginal delivery, who are obese, constipated, or with low maternal education. Damage to the levator ani muscle complex and adjacent fascia during childbirth affects urethral mobility and consequently results in sphincter insufficiency. Hypopressive exercises involve breathing techniques that regulate the intra-abdominal pressure. HE has been recently recognized for benefits such as pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength, endurance, postural control, core muscle activation, and respiratory capacity, which efficiently improve symptom severity and quality of life in postpartum women. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a set of frequent voluntary contractions designed to improve strength, coordination, and control. PFMT is considered as standard treatment protocol for urinary incontinence and other postpartum complications. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) and the Incontinence Quality of Life (IQOL) are used to assess symptom severity and quality of life, respectively. This study seeks to bridge that gap by evaluating and comparing the outcomes of HE and PFMT in postpartum women experiencing SUI. This research aims to support postpartum recovery, improve women's daily functioning, and enhance their overall well-being.

Conditions

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI); Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

Keywords

Post-partum stress urinary incontinence; Hypopressive exercises; Pelvic floor muscle training; Quality of life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Symptoms severity

  Symptom severity due to SUI will assessed by International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence short form (ICIQUI-SF) is a standardized, validated, self-administered questionnaire used to assess the severity of urinary incontinence (UI), influence quality of life, and situational triggers of leakage. It consists of four items: frequency of urine leakage, amount of urine leakage, overall impact of UI on daily life (rated on a 0-10 scale), and a self-diagnostic item asking when urine leaks (non-scored). The ICIQ-UI-SF showed a Cronbach's alpha value from 0.7 to 0.8, representing good internal consistency

  6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Incontinence Quality of life

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Hypopressive Exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Hypo-pressive Exercise (HE) training involves ribcage expansion and apnea to generate negative pressure, which in turn activates the deep core and pelvic floor muscles instinctively. Activating type I muscle fibers improves postural control, endurance, and coordination.

Other: hypo-pressive exercise

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT) through voluntary contraction and resistance training strengthens pelvic floor musculature. In addition, these exercises have the potential to improve control over urine and fecal incontinence.

Other: pelvic floor muscle training

Interventions

hypo-pressive exercise OTHER

Exercise is performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks with moderate intensity for 20 min/session which includes diaphragmatic breathing, apnea, postural alignment (standing, seated, kneeling), and pelvic floor co-activation).

Hypopressive Exercises

pelvic floor muscle training OTHER

Exercise is performed 3 times per week for 6 weeks with submaximal voluntary contraction (include both slow holds and quick flicks) for 20 min/session (each session includes multiple sets of 8 repetitions, hold for 5 seconds, with rest intervals). These Kegel exercises are performed in different positions.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 40 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: postpartum women
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Women aged between 20 and 40 years old
• Multiparous women
• Postpartum women ≤ 6 months.
• Vaginal deliveries.
• Women diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence within 6 weeks to six months

You may not qualify if:

• Neurological disorder
• Metabolic issue
• Abdominal and pelvic surgery in previous years
• Mentally retarded
• Pregnant women

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences: lead

Study Sites (1)

Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Urinary Incontinence, Stress

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Urinary Incontinence; 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

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2025
• First Posted: January 7, 2026
• Study Start: December 22, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 22, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 22, 2026
• Last Updated: February 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: July 2026- till any update

Locations

PA (1)