Biofeedback-Assisted Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation for Radiation-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Cervical Cancer Survivors
Efficacy of Biofeedback-Assisted Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Pelvic Radiation-Induced Sexual Dysfunction and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Cervical Cancer Survivors : A Randomized Controlled Trial
Studienübersicht
Status
Status
Bedingungen
Bedingungen
Intervention / Behandlung
Intervention / Behandlung
Detaillierte Beschreibung
Cervical cancer survivors commonly experience persistent sexual dysfunction and pelvic floor impairments following pelvic radiotherapy, including dyspareunia, reduced vaginal lubrication, vaginal stenosis, decreased genital sensation, pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, and reduced quality of life.
These complications are mainly attributed to radiation-induced fibrosis, vascular changes, and neuromuscular dysfunction affecting pelvic floor muscle performance and coordination, in addition to psychological distress.
Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is an established conservative intervention for improving pelvic floor muscle strength, coordination, and sexual function in women with pelvic floor dysfunction. Electromyographic biofeedback may enhance the effectiveness of PFMT by providing real-time visual and auditory feedback that facilitates motor learning, improves voluntary muscle activation, enhances relaxation capacity, and optimizes contraction-relaxation coordination.
This study is novel as it specifically evaluates electromyographic biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training in cervical cancer survivors with radiation-induced sexual dysfunction, an area with limited high-quality randomized controlled evidence. Unlike previous studies on general pelvic floor disorders, it uses a cancer-specific population, a standardized supervised active comparator, and integrates both subjective outcomes (Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)) and objective pelvic floor electromyography measures. The design allows isolation of the specific added benefit of biofeedback over conventional pelvic floor muscle training.
Studientyp
Studientyp
Einschreibung (Geschätzt)
Einschreibung
Phase
Phase
- Unzutreffend
Kontakte und Standorte
Studienkontakt
Studienkontakt
- Name: Marwa Elsayed Mohamed Lecturer, Ph.D
- Telefonnummer: 01141825442
- E-Mail: Marwa.elsayed@pt.bsu.edu.eg
Studienorte
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Banī Suwayf, Ägypten
- Rekrutierung
- Out patient clinic , faculty of Physical Therapy, Beni Sueif university
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Teilnahmekriterien
Zulassungskriterien
Zulassungskriterien
Studienberechtigtes Alter
- Erwachsene
Akzeptiert gesunde Freiwillige
Beschreibung
Inclusion Criteria:
- Female participants aged 30-60 years.
- Histologically confirmed diagnosis of cervical cancer (any stage at diagnosis) and completion of primary treatment.
- Completion of pelvic radiotherapy (external beam radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy) ≥3 months prior to enrollment.
- Presence of radiation-induced sexual dysfunction, defined as a Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score ≤26.55.
- Self-reported sexual activity within the previous 6 months.
- Medically stable with no current oncologic indication for active treatment, confirmed by treating oncologist.
- Ability to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Evidence of recurrent, persistent, or metastatic cervical cancer.
- Participation in pelvic floor muscle training or biofeedback-based rehabilitation within the previous 6 months.
- Presence of severe pelvic organ prolapse (stage III-IV).
- Active pelvic infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, or untreated vaginal infection.
- Ongoing significant vaginal bleeding of unknown or pathological origin.
- Untreated or active urinary tract infection at the time of enrollment.
- Neurological disorders affecting pelvic floor function (e.g., spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis).
- Severe psychiatric illness or uncontrolled mental health disorder affecting participation.
- Cognitive impairment preventing understanding of instructions or adherence to protocol.
- Current pregnancy or planning pregnancy during the study period.
- Participation in another interventional clinical or rehabilitation trial within the last 3 months or during the study period.
Studienplan
Wie ist die Studie aufgebaut?
Designdetails
- Hauptzweck: Behandlung
- Zuteilung: Zufällig
- Interventionsmodell: Parallele Zuordnung
- Maskierung: Single
Anzahl der Arme
Waffen und Interventionen
Teilnehmergruppe / ArmTeilnehmergruppe / Arm |
Intervention / BehandlungIntervention / Behandlung |
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Experimental: Biofeedback-Assisted Pelvic Floor Muscle Rehabilitation
Participants will receive supervised biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation three sessions weekly for 8 weeks.
Each treatment session will last approximately 45-60 minutes and will include pelvic floor muscle training, electromyographic biofeedback, coordination exercises, diaphragmatic breathing, relaxation training, stretching exercises, and a structured home exercise program.
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An intravaginal surface electromyographic probe connected to a pelvic floor biofeedback device will be used during supervised pelvic floor muscle training sessions conducted three times per week for 8 weeks, with each session lasting 45-60 minutes.
The protocol will include slow pelvic floor muscle contractions (8-12 repetitions per set, each held for 5-10 seconds with equal relaxation time) and fast contractions (10-15 rapid contractions per set), performed for 2-3 sets per session with short rest intervals (1-2 minutes) between sets according to participant tolerance.
Visual and auditory biofeedback will be provided throughout to enhance motor learning, muscle awareness, coordination, contraction quality, and relaxation control.
Training intensity, contraction duration, and repetitions will be progressively increased based on individual performance and fatigue response.
In addition, participants will perform a structured home exercise program five days per week.
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Aktiver Komparator: Supervised Conventional Pelvic Floor Muscle Training
Participants will receive supervised conventional pelvic floor muscle training without electromyographic biofeedback three sessions weekly for 8 weeks.
Participants will additionally receive pelvic health education, lifestyle advice, vaginal care recommendations, and a structured home exercise program.
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Participants will perform supervised pelvic floor muscle exercises including slow sustained contractions and rapid contractions without biofeedback guidance.
Exercise frequency, duration, and progression will be matched to the experimental group.
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Was misst die Studie?
Primäre Ergebnismessungen
Primäre Ergebnismessungen
Ergebnis Maßnahme |
Maßnahmenbeschreibung |
Zeitfenster |
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Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)
Zeitfenster: Baseline, 8 weeks, and 3-month follow-up
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Female sexual function will be assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a validated multidimensional questionnaire evaluating sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain domains.
Total scores range from 2 to 36, with lower scores indicating greater sexual dysfunction.
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Baseline, 8 weeks, and 3-month follow-up
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Sekundäre Ergebnismessungen
Sekundäre Ergebnismessungen
Ergebnis Maßnahme |
Maßnahmenbeschreibung |
Zeitfenster |
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Pelvic Floor Electromyographic Activity
Zeitfenster: Baseline, 8 weeks, and 3-month follow-up
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Resting pelvic floor muscle activity, maximal voluntary contraction amplitude, and average contraction amplitude will be recorded in microvolts (µV) using intravaginal surface electromyography (sEMG).
Resting activity will reflect baseline pelvic floor muscle tone during relaxation, while maximal voluntary contraction amplitude and average contraction amplitude will reflect pelvic floor muscle activation strength and recruitment during voluntary contractions.
Average values obtained from three maximal voluntary contractions will be used for statistical analysis.
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Baseline, 8 weeks, and 3-month follow-up
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Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Zeitfenster: Baseline, 8 weeks, and 3-month follow-up
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Psychological well-being will be assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a validated self-reported questionnaire consisting of 14 items divided into two subscales assessing anxiety and depression symptoms.
Each subscale score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater psychological distress.
Scores of 0-7 are considered normal, 8-10 indicate borderline abnormal symptoms, and 11-21 indicate clinically significant anxiety or depression.
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Baseline, 8 weeks, and 3-month follow-up
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Mitarbeiter und Ermittler
Sponsor
Sponsor
Studienaufzeichnungsdaten
Haupttermine studieren
Studienbeginn (Tatsächlich)
Studienbeginn
Primärer Abschluss (Geschätzt)
Primärer Abschluss
Studienabschluss (Geschätzt)
Studienabschluss
Studienanmeldedaten
Zuerst eingereicht
Zuerst eingereicht
Zuerst eingereicht, das die QC-Kriterien erfüllt hat
Zuerst eingereicht, das die QC-Kriterien erfüllt hat
Zuerst gepostet (Tatsächlich)
Zuerst gepostet
Studienaufzeichnungsaktualisierungen
Letztes Update gepostet (Tatsächlich)
Letztes Update gepostet
Letztes eingereichtes Update, das die QC-Kriterien erfüllt
Letztes eingereichtes Update, das die QC-Kriterien erfüllt
Zuletzt verifiziert
Zuletzt verifiziert
Mehr Informationen
Begriffe im Zusammenhang mit dieser Studie
Schlüsselwörter
Zusätzliche relevante MeSH-Bedingungen
- Urogenitale Erkrankungen
- Genitalerkrankungen
- Urogenitale Neoplasmen
- Neubildungen nach Standort
- Neubildungen
- Weibliche Urogenitalerkrankungen
- Weibliche Urogenitalerkrankungen und Schwangerschaftskomplikationen
- Uteruserkrankungen
- Genitalerkrankungen, weiblich
- Genitale Neubildungen, weiblich
- Gebärmutterhalskrankheiten
- Uterusneoplasmen
- Gebärmutterhalstumoren
- Sexuelle Dysfunktion, Physiologisch
Andere Studien-ID-Nummern
Andere Studien-ID-Nummern
- Radiotherapy FSD 2026
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Arzneimittel- und Geräteinformationen, Studienunterlagen
Studiert ein von der US-amerikanischen FDA reguliertes Arzneimittelprodukt
Studiert ein von der US-amerikanischen FDA reguliertes Geräteprodukt
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