Effectiveness of Abdomino-pelvic Muscle Contraction Education Programme in Healthy Male University Students

European University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pelvic Floor; Abdominal Muscles/ultrasonography; Abdominal Muscles

Treatments: Behavioral: PFM Educational Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06786182

2024-442

Details and patient eligibility

About

This research study investigates the effectiveness of an educational intervention aimed at improving awareness and control of pelvic floor (PF) and abdominal muscle contractions in healthy young male university students. Using ultrasound imaging, the study measures abdominal wall muscle thickness at rest and during pelvic floor contraction, Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR) test, and hollowing maneuvers in a randomized control trial.

Full description

The study addresses the largely overlooked area of male PF health, aiming to increase awareness and improve muscle control in healthy young men. A two-group design will be used to compare abdominal and PF muscle activation between a control group and an intervention group that receives online educational content. The intervention group will participate in a telematic program covering topics such as PF anatomy, muscle function, and the importance of proper muscle activation.

The study will use diagnostic ultrasound to measure thickness changes in the transverse abdominis (TrA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles before and after the intervention in both groups under different conditions: PF rest, PF contraction, single-leg raise (ASLR) test, and the hollowing maneuver.

Enrollment: 29 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Men aged 18-30 years
• Healthy men
• Informed consent submitted, accepted and signed

Exclusion criteria

• Patients undergoing abdominal cavity surgery
• Patients with cognitive/proprioceptive impairments
• Patients who have had physiotherapy interventions of PFM
• Patients with low scores on the Spanish-validated SHIM sexual health questionnaire for males.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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29 participants in 2 patient groups

EDUCATION

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receive an educational program focused on improving awareness and activation of the pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscle synergy through telematic resources.

Treatment:

Behavioral: PFM Educational Program

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this group receive no educational intervention and participate only in baseline and follow-up assessments of abdominal and PFM activation.