Evaluation of a Postural Rehabilitation Program Based on Sensory-motor Control in Men With Urinary Incontinence After Prostatectomy (PROTOMEN)

February 13, 2026 updated by: University Hospital, Rouen

Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined by the International Continence Society as "any involuntary loss of urine complained by the patient". The anatomical and histological specificities of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) give them a key role in the control of urination but also in the control of postural stability. These activities are involuntary automatisms and the mechanisms that lead to post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence are not only due to the loss of voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. The mechanisms that lead to UI are more complex and may involve the loss of efficacy of all deep muscle stabilizing lumbo-pelvic region. Rehabilitation of pelvic floor muscles is recommended in the treatment of urinary incontinence after prostatectomy (Grade A), but there is a lack of evidence to define the best treatment regimen for PFM rehabilitation.

Two kinds of PFM rehabilitation are are commonly practiced by specialized physiotherapists.

  • The first one is made in individual box, in supine position. By analytic contractions of the PFM, (exercises of Kegel type) +/- associated with an instrumental biofeedback. This method used voluntary contractions of MPP.
  • The second is realized in various positions following a gravity progression, in individual and /or common room. This technique aims to restore a stabilization of the entire lumbo-pelvic region by postural recruitment involving synergistic contractions of the PFM.

These trials propose to compare these two rehabilitation programs on populations with postoperative follow-up of more than 12 months.

We chose to objectify the urine leaks with the pad test (weighing of the protections urinary over a period of 3 times 24h) which will be our main evaluation criterion. The home test pad of 3 times in 24 hours has been used by numerous studies and its reproducibility and reliability are established.

Urinary incontinence is a recognized factor of sedentary lifestyle, fatigue, impaired mental health and decreased of physical fitness. We therefore wish to observe these parameters for each of our two randomized groups

Study Overview

Status

Withdrawn

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Rouen, France
        • Rouen University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 78 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Gender: Male
  • Between the age of 18 and 78 years
  • Patient who underwent prostatectomy more than 12 months ago but less than 10 years
  • 3x24h pad test over or equivalent to 10 grs
  • Persistent urinary incontinence beyond 12 month following prostatectomy
  • Patient affiliated to social security
  • Patient who submitted non-opposition for participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who underwent prostatectomy or other visceral surgery less than one year ago
  • Patient who underwent surgical treatment of urinary incontinence
  • Patient with urinary incontinence less than 10g
  • Surgery considered within two years of inclusion
  • Radio, hormone, or chemotherapy cured or in progress
  • Anticholinergic treatment less than 3 months ago
  • Patient with neurological or bladder disorders potentially involved in incontinence disorders
  • Vestibular or psychiatric pathology making limitations to carry out all the examinations provided for in the protocol
  • Patient unable to complete the planned 15 visits to physiotherapist
  • Patient participating in another clinical trial

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: postural rehabilitation program based on sensory-motor control
This program is based on sensory-motor control
No Intervention: Standard physiotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Difference from baseline in urine leakage
Time Frame: 6 months
urine leakage will be measured using pad test
6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Difference from baseline in The Berg balance scale test
Time Frame: 6 months
The Berg balance scale test evaluating the quality of static and dynamic motor control.
6 months
Difference from baseline in quality of life
Time Frame: 6 months
quality of life is based on EORTC QLQ C30
6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Benoît STEENSTRUP, University Hospital, Rouen

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

October 2, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

October 14, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

October 14, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 19, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 19, 2017

First Posted (Estimated)

January 23, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 13, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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