Supervised Exercise as a Therapeutic Strategy for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome

Interstitial Cystitis Clinical Trial

— IC/BPS  

Official title:

Supervised Exercise as a Therapeutic Strategy for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05699551
• Other study ID #: IRB00092907
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 10, 2023
• Est. completion date: September 2025

Study information

• Verified date: November 2023
• Source: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
• Contact: Stephen J Walker, PhD
• Phone: 3367493574
• Email: swalker[@]wakehealth.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

In this study, the efficacy of exercise to improve interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome symptoms and quality of life will be investigated.

Description:

Effective treatment for symptoms associated with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is a significant clinical challenge due to the lack of insight into disease etiology/pathophysiology, costly and potentially invasive procedures, and a lack of research into potential therapeutics. The primary objective of this study is to determine if a supervised exercise program by a trained exercise physiologist can relieve pain and improve urinary and bladder symptoms in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. This has the potential to open enormous future avenues of research, save both patients and the healthcare system cost, and most importantly improve patients' lives. A second objective of this study is to determine if exercise alters depressive symptoms, often a comorbid diagnosis, in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. A third objective of this study is to examine urinary markers of inflammation before and after exercise in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 10
• Est. completion date: September 2025
• Est. primary completion date: September 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 18 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult females (>18 years and <80 years) with a previously established clinical diagnosis of Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) will be eligible to participate

• Must speak English

• The clinical diagnosis of IC/BPS will be based on the recently published American Urological Association Guidelines definition: "An unpleasant sensation (pain, pressure, or discomfort) perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms for more than six weeks duration, in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes"

• The diagnosis will be confirmed by a urologist who specializes in the treatment of patients with IC/BPS

Exclusion Criteria:

• Study participants must be fully ambulatory without the use of a cane, walker, or wheelchair

• Study participants must be able to tolerate moderate aerobic exercise. It will also be required that a physician clear any subjects entering the exercise program who have signs and symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, metabolic, or renal disease and have been active 3 days per week for 30 minutes each day

• Any history of bladder cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, vaginal cancer, the current placement of a catheter, urethral diverticulum, spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, cyclophosphamide treatment, radiation cystitis, bladder tuberculosis, or are experiencing an active genital herpes episode

• Pregnant women are not eligible for this study

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Bladder Pain Syndrome
• Cystitis
• Cystitis, Interstitial
• Interstitial Cystitis
• Somatoform Disorders
• Syndrome

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Exercise regimen
Exercise will take place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00-1:00 pm for 6 weeks. Aerobic exercise will consist of walking, beginning with a 10-minute duration, with gradual progression to 20 minutes. Muscle strength, endurance and range-of-motion exercise will then be performed. Muscle strength and endurance training will begin using no weight and performing one set of 6 repetitions. Progression using added resistance in the form of dumbbell weights (1-6 lbs.) and increased sets and repetitions will be applied as Subjects become increasingly fit. For static range of motion exercise, positions will be held for 10-15 seconds in the beginning and increased over time. Exercise will be kept at a moderate level of intensity. Each session will then end with relaxation training.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Wake Forest University Health Sciences	Winston-Salem	North Carolina

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Wake Forest University Health Sciences	University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	Changes in inflammatory urinary biomarkers	Urine samples will be obtained at baseline and at the end of the 4 month exercise period from participants. The urine will then be analyzed for biomarkers of inflammation using a Luminex High Performance Assay. Any decrease in the levels of biomarkers of inflammation in the urine is the outcome of interest.	baseline, 6 weeks
Other	Post-regimen review	After the exercise program concludes, participants will be contacted via phone or email and asked to comment on the program and make suggestions for improvement. This will include things such as if they would recommend the program to friends/family, if they have continued to exercise and/or will continue to exercise on their own time, and any portions of the program they would change or do differently.	after week 6
Primary	Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) Scores	Participants answer a series of questions to get a final score. Scores range from 0-20, with 0 being no symptoms and 20 the most severe.	baseline
Primary	Interstitial Cystitis Problem (ICPI) Index Scores	Participants answer a series of questions to get a final score. Scores range from 0-16, with 0 being no symptoms and 16 the most severe.	week 3
Primary	Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) Scores	Participants answer a series of questions to get a final score. Scores range from 0-20, with 0 being no symptoms and 20 the most severe.	week 3
Primary	Interstitial Cystitis Problem (ICPI) Index Scores	Participants answer a series of questions to get a final score. Scores range from 0-16, with 0 being no symptoms and 16 the most severe.	week 6
Primary	Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency Patient Symptom Scale (PUF) Scores	This survey is used to grade people with chronic pelvic pain. Participants answer a series of questions. Scores range between 0 and 35, and studies have indicated that a score greater than 12 is indicative of significant symptoms	baseline
Primary	Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency Patient Symptom Scale (PUF) Scores	This survey is used to grade people with chronic pelvic pain. Participants answer a series of questions. Scores range between 0 and 35, and studies have indicated that a score greater than 12 is indicative of significant symptoms	week 3
Primary	Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency Patient Symptom Scale (PUF) Scores	This survey is used to grade people with chronic pelvic pain. Participants answer a series of questions. Scores range between 0 and 35, and studies have indicated that a score greater than 12 is indicative of significant symptoms	week 6
Secondary	Change in the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey Scores	The SF-36 is a questionnaire that consists of 8 subsections of 36 total questions. The sections are Physical functioning (10 items), Role limitations due to physical health (4 items), Role limitations due to emotional problems (4 items), Energy/fatigue (4 items), Emotional well-being (5 items), Social functioning (2 items), Pain (2 items), General health (5 items). Aggregate scores for each domain range from 0 to 100, compiled as a percentage - where the higher the score, the more favorable the health state of the patient.	baseline, week 3, week 6
Secondary	Changes in Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS-31) Scores	The test has 6 domains looking at autonomic symptoms: orthostatic intolerance, vasomotor, secretomotor, gastrointestinal, bladder and pupillomotor. The six domain scores sum to a total COMPASS 31 score of 0 to 100, and a higher COMPASS 31 score indicates more severe autonomic symptoms.	baseline, week 3, week 6