A 4-Week Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Program in Female Medical Students: Knowledge and Ultrasound Assessment

NCT07742072 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KB/351/2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 49
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a four-week pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training program using different activation strategies on pelvic floor muscle function in healthy women. An additional objective was to assess participants' knowledge of pelvic floor muscle anatomy, function, and voluntary activation. Healthy female medical students were assigned to one of three training groups: a breathing exercise group, an isolated pelvic floor muscle contraction group, or a combined pelvic floor muscle contraction with breathing group. The training program lasted four weeks. Pelvic floor muscle function was assessed before and after the intervention using transabdominal ultrasound imaging. Prior to the intervention, participants completed an author-developed questionnaire assessing their knowledge of pelvic floor muscles.

Conditions

Pelvic Floor Awareness; Pelvic Floor Disorder; Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness

Keywords

pelvic floor; pelvic floor muscle training; pelvic floor dysfunction prevention; physioprophylaxis; ultrasound assessment; young women; nulliparous women

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in pelvic floor muscle function assessed by transabdominal ultrasound

  Change in pelvic floor muscle function after a four-week pelvic floor muscle training program, assessed using transabdominal ultrasound imaging. The assessment was performed before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in pelvic floor muscle activation.

  Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention

Study Arms (3)

Breathing exercise group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed breathing exercises aimed at improving coordination between respiratory patterns and pelvic floor muscle function.

Behavioral: Breathing exercises

Pelvic floor muscle contraction group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed voluntary isolated pelvic floor muscle contractions as a training intervention.

Behavioral: Pelvic floor muscle contraction training

Combined breathing and pelvic floor muscle contraction group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants performed exercises combining voluntary pelvic floor muscle contractions with breathing techniques.

Behavioral: Breathing exercises; Behavioral: Pelvic floor muscle contraction training

Interventions

Breathing exercises BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed breathing exercises for four weeks. The training focused on diaphragmatic breathing and improving coordination between respiratory patterns and pelvic floor muscle function. Participants received instructions on proper breathing technique and performed exercises regularly according to the study protocol.

Breathing exercise group; Combined breathing and pelvic floor muscle contraction group

Pelvic floor muscle contraction training BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed isolated voluntary pelvic floor muscle contractions for four weeks. The training focused on conscious activation and strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles. Participants received instructions on correct pelvic floor muscle contraction technique and performed exercises regularly according to the study protocol.

Combined breathing and pelvic floor muscle contraction group; Pelvic floor muscle contraction group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 28 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• female aged 18-28 years
• student status
• no history of injuries or surgeries involving the pelvis or lower urinary tract
• no previous pregnancies or childbirths
• no pelvic disorders or conditions (e.g., endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, recurrent bladder infections, kidney stones)
• no active infection
• no inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
• no diseases or disorders of the respiratory system

You may not qualify if:

• previous therapy with a urogynecological physiotherapist
• pregnancy or history of childbirth
• history of surgery involving the pelvis, lower urinary tract, spine, or abdominal cavity
• pelvic diseases and disorders
• ongoing infections or inflammatory conditions
• lack of consent to participate in the study
• cancer
• inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
• age below 18 or above 28 years
• active smoking of cigarettes or e-cigarettes
• diseases and disorders of the respiratory system

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medical University of Gdansk: lead

Study Sites (1)

Medical University of Gdańsk

Gdansk, Pomeranian Voivodeship, 80-211, Poland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pelvic Floor Disorders

Interventions

Breathing Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Pregnancy Complications; Male Urogenital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Officials

• Elżbieta Rajkowska-Labon, PhD

  Medical University od Gdańsk

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 27, 2026
• First Posted: August 3, 2026
• Study Start: November 14, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 16, 2025
• Study Completion: December 16, 2025
• Last Updated: August 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

PL (1)