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Hip External Rotation Physical Therapy Trial

Physiotherapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence: Feasibility Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial of Hip External Rotation Exercise Training Versus Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Training

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03296462
Acronym
HER-Physio
Enrollment
31
Registered
2017-09-28
Start date
2016-11-03
Completion date
2019-07-10
Last updated
2022-05-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Urinary Incontinence, Stress

Brief summary

This RCT is a feasibility study to evaluate the Lois Hole Hospital for Women's Urogynecology Clinic's ability to recruit and randomize SUI patients to the proposed RCT, and to test the study procedures and follow-up schedule for participants. The study interventions used in the feasibility study will be training of (1) Hip Extension Rotation (HER) exercises alone, (2) HER exercises in combination with Pelvic Floor Muscle (PFM) exercises, or (3) PFM exercises alone (control/usual care) in the treatment of SUI.

Detailed description

Background: Hip External Rotation (HER) exercises are being adopted into physiotherapy practice for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) despite little evidence compared to the proven effective standard of care treatment, pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercises. A randomised clinical trial (RCT) is needed to determine whether HER exercise alone or in combination with PFM is more or less effective than PFM exercises alone. Objective: Before designing an RCT, a feasibility study is needed to evaluate the Lois Hole Hospital for Women's Urogynecology Clinic's ability to recruit and randomize SUI patients to the proposed RCT, and to test the study procedures and follow-up schedule for participants. Interventions: The interventions used in the feasibility study will be training of (1) HER exercises alone, (2) HER exercises in combination with PFM exercises, or (3) PFM exercises alone (control/usual care) in the treatment of SUI. Study design: RCT in which participants are randomly allocated 1:1:1 to each intervention. Outcome Measures: Feasibility outcomes will pertain to recruitment, adherence to training, appropriateness of outcome measures and completion rates. The design of the proposed RCT will be based on these feasibility outcomes. Outcome measures for the proposed RCT will include pelvic floor muscle strength, external hip rotator muscle strength, diary-reported urinary incontinence, incontinence related quality of life, and (to test patient mobility) six minute walk test and timed up and go test. Sample size: The proposed sample size is 30 participants. Duration of study: After recruitment, each woman will undergo 12 weeks of training, with the first outcome measure at the end of that period, and a further follow up at 24 weeks from recruitment.

Interventions

OTHERHip external rotation exercise

Standardised HER exercise training by physiotherapist (plus video recording of exercises)

OTHERPelvic floor muscle exercise

Standardised PFM exercise training by physiotherapist (plus video recording of exercises)

Sponsors

Physiotherapy Alberta - College + Association
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
University of Alberta
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Patient and research assistant are blind to next allocation. Outcome assessors (physiotherapist and exercise physiologist) and one investigator are blinded to group of allocation. Statistician will be masked to group of allocation.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Stress urinary incontinence * Attending Lois Hole Hospital for Women Urogynecology Clinic * Referred for physiotherapy for stress urinary incontinence * Able to toilet independently * Able to undertake hip rotation exercises * Able to speak and read English

Exclusion criteria

* Urge urinary incontinence * Using a pessary * Neurological or cognitive impairment * Using other treatment for incontinence * Unable to complete study forms * Unable to understand educational instruction

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Feasibility: achieve recruitment of 30 women over 12 months12 monthsIs recruitment feasible? Feasibility is defined as achieving recruitment target of 30 recruits within 12 months
Feasibility: achieve follow-up for 60% of recruits over 12 months12 monthsIs follow-up complete for 60% of recruits?

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Patient mobility12 & 24 weekstimed up and go test - time in sconds
Incontinence-related quality of life (distress)12 & 24 weeksUDI-6 questionnaire (measure of distress caused by incontinence, 0 minimum to 100 maximum)
Incontinence-related quality of life (impact)12 & 24 weeksIIQ-7 questionnaire (measure of impact of incontinence, 0 minimum to 100 maximum)
External hip rotator muscle strength12 & 24 weeksStrength will be measured using Microfit ET3
Diary-reported urinary incontinence12 & 24 weeks3-day bladder diary to record amount and reason for leakage
Pelvic floor muscle strength12 & 24 weeksStrength will be measured using Peritron perineometer
Patient mobility (walking)12 & 24 weeksSix minute walk test - distance walked (metres)

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026