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Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

NCT number NCT02355327
Other study ID # SREC 14-15 02 D 02 12 2014
Secondary ID 1704/2014
Status Completed
Phase N/A
First received January 13, 2015
Last updated June 22, 2016
Start date February 2015
Est. completion date May 2016

Study information

Verified date January 2016
Source City University, London
Contact n/a
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority United Kingdom: Research Ethics CommitteeAustria: Ethikkommission
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This feasibility trial aims at assessing practical issues and feasibility of a future randomised controlled trial (RCT) to determine the effectiveness of vibrating vaginal pelvic floor training balls for postpartum pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation, at monitoring harms of the experimental intervention, and at exploring women´s perspectives on and experiences with the interventions and the trial.


Description:

Background: Pelvic floor muscle training after childbirth is recommended to prevent or treat urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor problems. A device that is sometimes recommended to women in Austria to enhance their pelvic floor muscles are vibrating vaginal pelvic floor training balls. To date, only a small study on vibrating balls exists, and it researched women with urinary incontinence and not women after childbirth. Therefore, research is needed to scientifically objectify the popular claim of these balls“ effectiveness in the postpartum period and further evidence based practice.

Method: The tested study features comprise

- recruitment strategies,

- inclusion and exclusion criteria,

- the necessary number of participants,

- the randomisation procedure,

- the interventions themselves,

- concordance and retention measures,

- data collection,

- effectiveness outcomes,

- a survey of women's views of and experiences,

- statistics and content analysis.

Results: The results of this trial will inform the features and feasibility of a future full RCT. It will be concluded that a full RCT to determine the effectiveness of vibrating vaginal pelvic floor training balls post partum is feasible as planned, feasible with modifications or not feasible. If considered feasible, the results will enable the full study to be planned correctly.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Completed
Enrollment 56
Est. completion date May 2016
Est. primary completion date May 2016
Accepts healthy volunteers No
Gender Female
Age group 18 Years and older
Eligibility Inclusion Criteria:

- Women from 6 weeks to 6 months after vaginal childbirth (at beginning of intervention)

- Term birth, i.e. 37+0 or more weeks of gestation

- 6 weeks postpartum check by obstetrician-gynaecologist performed and woman discharged from postpartum care with diagnostic findings appropriate to this period after childbirth

- Lochia have ceased

- Baby alive/not seriously ill

- Sufficient knowledge of written and spoken German to be able to participate in the study

- Capacity to consent

Exclusion Criteria:

- Currently enrolled in pelvic floor muscle training with physiotherapist, midwife or fitness trainer

- Status post perineal tear 3rd or 4th degree at most recent birth

- Status post continence surgery

- Current pelvic floor or gynaecological surgery

- Current infection of genitourinary tract

- Recurrent (>5 infectious episodes during last 12 months) or chronic (>3 weeks duration of single episode in last 12 months) vaginal infections

- Neuromuscular conditions influencing pelvic floor muscle function (e.g. multiple sclerosis)

- Major medical condition influencing infectious risk (diabetes, immune suppressive therapy, HIV infection etc.)

- Currently on medication that could interfere with treatment or evaluation

- Currently enrolled in any other research study

- Pregnancy (also commencing during participation) or pregnancy planned within the study period

- Retention of ball is impossible

- Inability to perform the proposed procedures

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor)


Related Conditions & MeSH terms

  • Pelvic Floor Health After Childbirth

Intervention

Device:
Laselle Kegel Exerciser
Participants use a vibrating pelvic floor muscle training ball for 12 weeks. The ball is inserted into the vagina and left for 15 minutes daily in the first week, and if well tolerated 30 minutes daily from the second week onwards. To achieve the vibrating effect, the balls are worn while moving - performing everyday tasks or going for a walk.
Behavioral:
Pelvic floor muscle exercises
Participants get standard care after childbirth, which is the routine recommendation of pelvic floor muscle exercises. Participants will be asked to continue/start the pelvic floor muscle exercises they routinely were recommended by customary written instructions from their health professionals after birth. Intervention duration for this study is 12 weeks.

Locations

Country Name City State
Austria Medical University of Vienna Vienna

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
City University, London Medical University of Vienna

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Austria, 

References & Publications (3)

Oblasser C, Christie J, McCourt C. Vaginal cones or balls to improve pelvic floor muscle performance and urinary continence in women post partum: A quantitative systematic review. Midwifery. 2015 Nov;31(11):1017-25. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2015.08.011. Epub 2015 Sep 9. Review. — View Citation

Oblasser C, Christie J, McCourt C. Vaginal cones or balls to improve pelvic floor muscle performance and urinary continence in women postpartum: a quantitative systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. J Adv Nurs. 2015 Apr;71(4):933-41. doi: 10.1111/jan.12566. Epub 2014 Nov 10. Review. — View Citation

Oblasser C, McCourt C, Hanzal E, Christie J. Vibrating vaginal balls to improve pelvic floor muscle performance in women after childbirth: a protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial. J Adv Nurs. 2016 Apr;72(4):900-14. doi: 10.1111/jan.12868. Epub 2015 Dec 28. — View Citation

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Other Participant reported pelvic floor muscle outcomes as measured by structured questionnaire Questionnaire contains self-designed section and also includes the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ UI) Within 3 weeks before the intervention No
Other Participant reported pelvic floor muscle outcomes as measured by structured questionnaire Questionnaire contains self-designed section and also includes the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ UI) Within 2 weeks after the intervention No
Other Pelvic floor muscle performance as measured by perineometry By blinded external assessor Within 4 days before the intervention No
Other Pelvic floor muscle performance as measured by perineometry By blinded external assessor Within 2 weeks after the intervention No
Other Women´s perspectives and experiences as measured by structured interviews 28 of 56 women Within 3 weeks before the intervention No
Other Women´s perspectives and experiences as measured by structured interviews Same 28 of 56 women as for previous outcome measure Within 2 weeks after the intervention No
Other Women´s perspectives and experiences as measured by structured anonymous questionnaire 28 of 56 women (those not included in the two previous outcome measures) Within 3 weeks after the intervention No
Other Concordance to interventions as measured by training diary At time of intervention (12 weeks) No
Other Type, severity and number of adverse events as measured by active and passive surveillance (interview, self-report) At time of intervention (12 weeks) Yes
Other Type, severity and number of adverse events as measured by active and passive surveillance (interview/questionnaire, self-report) First 28 of 56 women: interview, second 28 of 56 women: questionnaire Up to 1 year after end of intervention Yes
Primary Feasibility as measured by recruitment rate Within 4 weeks of ending recruitment No
Primary Feasibility as measured by pre intervention pelvic floor muscle measurement attendance rate Within 4 weeks of ending data collection No
Primary Feasibility as measured by start of intervention rate Within 4 weeks of ending data collection No
Primary Feasibility as measured by concordance rate Within 4 weeks of ending data collection No
Primary Feasibility as measured by retention rate Within 4 weeks of ending data collection No
Primary Feasibility as measured by post intervention data collection attendance rate Within 4 weeks of ending data collection No
Primary Feasibility as measured by staff necessary Within 4 weeks of ending data collection No
Primary Feasibility as measured by time necessary Within 4 weeks of ending data collection No
Primary Feasibility as measured by budget necessary Within 4 weeks of ending data collection No