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Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and pessaries are first-line non-surgical conservative treatments for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field (HIFEM) is a noninvasive and painless device, designed to promote muscle strengthening and growth and has become a popular treatment option for urinary incontinence in the field of gynecology. However, HIFEM has not yet been rigorously compared to traditional physical therapy for POP. The objectives of this pilot study are to explore clinical effects of HIFEM on POP symptoms; to compare the effectiveness of HIFEM versus PFMT with biofeedback, and usual care on patient-centered outcomes; and to explore the acceptability of the interventions. This is a prospective, single-center randomized controlled trial with a nested qualitative interview study. Twenty-one women with POP, aged >20 years, will be recruited and randomly allocated to three groups, 'HIFEM' group, 'Biofeedback' group, and 'Usual care' group.The 'HIFEM' group will be asked to sit straight in the center of an electromagnetic chair and remained fully clothed for 28 minutes. The 'Biofeedback' group will receive PFMT with biofeedback and/or electrostimulation. Both 'HIFEM' and 'Biofeedback' groups will receive the interventions twice a week for 8 weeks. Participants allocated to the 'Usual care' group will receive the lifestyle advice leaflet only. All participants will be assessed for pelvic floor muscle function, symptom severity of POP, occurrence and distress related to pelvic floor dysfunction, and impact of pelvic floor dysfunction at baseline and immediately post-intervention.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent, non-malignant condition affecting 30% to 50% women, with roughly 30% of these women undergo surgical intervention due to related symptoms impacting their daily lives. According to the international guidelines, the management of POP encompasses several approaches, including observation, lifestyle adjustments, pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), the use of pessaries, reconstructive surgeries, obliterative surgeries, transperineal surgeries, and transabdominal surgeries. Among these, PFMT and pessaries are first-line non-surgical conservative treatments for POP. High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Field (HIFEM) is a noninvasive and painless device, designed to promote muscle strengthening and growth. Recently, the HIFEM has become a popular treatment option for urinary incontinence in the field of gynecology. The HIFEM, unlike traditional PFMT, does not require any exposure of the intimate part of the body; the patient is fully clothed and seated on the center of the chair during the treatment. However, while revolutionary, HIFEM has not yet been rigorously compared to traditional physical therapy for POP.
The objectives of this study are:
This is a prospective, single-center randomized controlled trial with a nested qualitative interview study. Sixty-nine women with POP, aged >20 years, will be recruited and randomly allocated to three groups, 'HIFEM' group, 'Biofeedback' group, and 'Usual care' group. The 'HIFEM' group will be asked to sit straight in the center of an electromagnetic chair and remained fully clothed for 28 minutes. The process will be supervised by a female physical therapist who will also provide a lifestyle advice leaflet and education to the participants. The training will be provided at a frequency of two sessions per week over 8 weeks. The 'Biofeedback' group will receive PFMT with biofeedback and/or electrostimulation twice a week for 8 weeks with a physical therapist. Participants allocated to the 'Usual care' group will receive the lifestyle advice leaflet only. The baseline and immediately post-intervention assessments will include clinical examination of pelvic floor muscle function (digital palpation and transperineal ultrasound) and three questionnaires about symptom severity of POP, occurrence and distress related to pelvic floor dysfunction, and impact of pelvic floor dysfunction. This study will provide evidence of effectiveness of different modes of physical therapy program for women with POP and health-care professionals working with this population in clinical practice.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIFEM | Experimental | During the initial appointment, participants will receive a comprehensive lifestyle advice leaflet covering pertinent information related to POP risk factors and guidance on diet, weight loss, the avoidance of heavy lifting, coughing, high-impact exercises. Following th educational component, participants will be asked to sit in an upright position at the center of an electromagnetic chair (such as the BTL EMSELLA, BTL Industries Inc., Boston MA) while remaining fully clothed for a duration of 28 minutes. To ensure optimal stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles, the physical therapist will carefully monitor the participant's chair posture throughout the treatment sessions and adjust the intensity of the electromagnetic stimulus according to the participant's tolerance threshold. |
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| Biofeedback | Active Comparator | The biofeedback group will undergo PFMT with biofeedback and/or electrostimulation, administered twice a week over 8 weeks by a skilled physical therapist. During the biofeedback and electrical stimulation, participants will assume a supine position with a 45° angle of hip and knee flexion, refraining from actively contracting the PFMs. The intravaginal probe will be inserted into the vagina. The frequency of electrostimulation will be set between 10-50 Hz based on participant tolerance and the pulse duration will be adjusted to 300-500 μs. The stimulation intensity will be set at the maximum tolerable level. During biofeedback, participants will receive visual instructions to guide them in relaxing and contracting their PFMs. |
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| Usual care group | No Intervention | Participants allocated to the usual care (i.e., no physical therapy) group will receive the usual care provided by their obstetricians or gynecologists based on clinical judgment, in addition to the lifestyle advice leaflet provided by the research team. The lifestyle advice leaflet will be given to the participants immediately after the baseline assessment, and the usual care group will have no planned contact with the project staff until 8 weeks after the baseline assessment. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biofeedback | Device | To facilitate PFM function, electromyography biofeedback and electrical stimulation will be employed using an intravaginal probe, tailored to individual needs. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| POP Symptom Severity | The evaluation of POP symptom severity will utilize the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score (POP-SS). The POP-SS comprises seven items gauging the frequency of various prolapse symptoms. Each item employs a five-point Likert scale response set (0-4). The cumulative scores of the seven questions result in a total score ranging from 0 to 28, where higher scores indicate more pronounced symptom severity. | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Distress Related to Pelvic Floor Dysfunction | The distress related to pelvic floor dysfunction will be assessed using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20). This instrument consists of 20 questions in three domains: urinary (6 questions), POP (6 questions), and colorectal-anal (8 questions). The total score ranges from 0 - 300. Higher values indicate greater distress caused by pelvic floor dysfunction. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptability of the Intervention and the Outcome Measures | Number of Participants Considered The Intervention Adequate | 8 weeks |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Kuan-Yin Lin, PhD | National Taiwan University | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Taiwan University Hospital | Taipei | Taiwan |
The main reason for not sharing individual participant data is that the data are confidential.
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Twenty-eight people took part in the study and were divided into three groups: HIFEM (10 participants), PFMT (9 participants), and usual care (9 participants).
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| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FG000 | HIFEM | During the initial appointment, participants will receive a comprehensive lifestyle advice leaflet covering pertinent information related to POP risk factors and guidance on diet, weight loss, the avoidance of heavy lifting, coughing, high-impact exercises. Following th educational component, participants will be asked to sit in an upright position at the center of an electromagnetic chair (such as the BTL EMSELLA, BTL Industries Inc., Boston MA) while remaining fully clothed for a duration of 28 minutes. To ensure optimal stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles, the physical therapist will carefully monitor the participant's chair posture throughout the treatment sessions and adjust the intensity of the electromagnetic stimulus according to the participant's tolerance threshold. |
| FG001 | Biofeedback | The biofeedback group will undergo PFMT with biofeedback and/or electrostimulation, administered twice a week over 8 weeks by a skilled physical therapist. During the biofeedback and electrical stimulation, participants will assume a supine position with a 45° angle of hip and knee flexion, refraining from actively contracting the PFMs. The intravaginal probe will be inserted into the vagina. The frequency of electrostimulation will be set between 10-50 Hz based on participant tolerance and the pulse duration will be adjusted to 300-500 μs. The stimulation intensity will be set at the maximum tolerable level. During biofeedback, participants will receive visual instructions to guide them in relaxing and contracting their PFMs. |
| FG002 | Usual Care Group | Participants allocated to the usual care (i.e., no physical therapy) group will receive the usual care provided by their obstetricians or gynecologists based on clinical judgment, in addition to the lifestyle advice leaflet provided by the research team. The lifestyle advice leaflet will be given to the participants immediately after the baseline assessment, and the usual care group will have no planned contact with the project staff until 8 weeks after the baseline assessment. |
| Title | Milestones | Reasons Not Completed | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study |
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| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BG000 | HIFEM | During the initial appointment, participants will receive a comprehensive lifestyle advice leaflet covering pertinent information related to POP risk factors and guidance on diet, weight loss, the avoidance of heavy lifting, coughing, high-impact exercises. Following th educational component, participants will be asked to sit in an upright position at the center of an electromagnetic chair (such as the BTL EMSELLA, BTL Industries Inc., Boston MA) while remaining fully clothed for a duration of 28 minutes. To ensure optimal stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles, the physical therapist will carefully monitor the participant's chair posture throughout the treatment sessions and adjust the intensity of the electromagnetic stimulus according to the participant's tolerance threshold. |
| Units | Counts |
|---|---|
| Participants |
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| Title | Description | Population Description | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Denominator Units Selected | Denominators | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | Mean |
| Type | Title | Description | Population Description | Reporting Status | Anticipated Posting Date | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Time Frame | Units Analyzed | Denominator Units Selected | Arm/Group Information | Denominators | Classes | Analyses | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | POP Symptom Severity | The evaluation of POP symptom severity will utilize the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptom Score (POP-SS). The POP-SS comprises seven items gauging the frequency of various prolapse symptoms. Each item employs a five-point Likert scale response set (0-4). The cumulative scores of the seven questions result in a total score ranging from 0 to 28, where higher scores indicate more pronounced symptom severity. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
|
through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
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| ID | Title | Description | Deaths (Affected) | Deaths (At Risk) | Serious Events (Affected) | Serious Events (At Risk) | Other Events (Affected) | Other Events (At Risk) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EG000 | HIFEM | During the initial appointment, participants will receive a comprehensive lifestyle advice leaflet covering pertinent information related to POP risk factors and guidance on diet, weight loss, the avoidance of heavy lifting, coughing, high-impact exercises. Following th educational component, participants will be asked to sit in an upright position at the center of an electromagnetic chair (such as the BTL EMSELLA, BTL Industries Inc., Boston MA) while remaining fully clothed for a duration of 28 minutes. To ensure optimal stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles, the physical therapist will carefully monitor the participant's chair posture throughout the treatment sessions and adjust the intensity of the electromagnetic stimulus according to the participant's tolerance threshold. |
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| Title | Organization | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuan-Yin Lin | National Taiwan University | +886-2-33668138 | kuanyinl27173@ntu.edu.tw |
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| Type | Includes Protocol | Includes SAP | Includes ICF | Document Label | Document Date | Document Uploaded Date | Document File Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prot_SAP | Yes | Yes | No | Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan | Jan 8, 2026 | Apr 15, 2026 | Prot_SAP_000.pdf |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D056887 | Pelvic Organ Prolapse |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D011391 | Prolapse |
| D020763 | Pathological Conditions, Anatomical |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001676 | Biofeedback, Psychology |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D026441 | Mind-Body Therapies |
| D000529 | Complementary Therapies |
| D013812 | Therapeutics |
| D001521 | Behavior Therapy |
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| HIFEM | Device | The HIFEM device (i.e. BTL EMSELLA) is FDA approved and its indications are to provide entirely non-invasive electromagnetic stimulation of pelvic floor muscle for the purpose of rehabilitation of weak pelvic muscles and restoration of neuromuscular control for the treatment of male and female urinary incontinence. |
|
| absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
| Impact of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction | The impact of pelvic floor dysfunction will be assessed using the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7). This questionnaire consists of seven questions in three domains (urinary, POP, and colorectal-anal). The total score ranges from 0 - 300. Higher scores indicate greater impact. | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
| Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength | Digital measurement of squeeze and lift strength, recorded using the modified Oxford scale in lying and standing positions will be used. The Modified Oxford Scale quantifies pelvic floor muscle strength as 0, no contraction; 1, flicker; 2, weak; 3, moderate; 4, good; and 5, strong. Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) strength will be measured over 3 seconds. Participants will need to repeat three MVC contractions, with a 3-second interval in between, and the best of three will be recorded. | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
| Pelvic Floor Muscle Endurance (Time) | Endurance will be measured by asking the participants to sustained an MVC and the sustained time will be recorded in seconds. | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
| Pelvic Floor Muscle Endurance (Repetition Number) | Endurance will also be measured by asking the participants to perform fast-twitch pelvic floor muscle contractions with each MVC lasting 1 second. Endurance will be recorded as the number of time of fast contractions that the participant can execute. | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
| Anteroposterior Diameter of Urogenital Hiatus | A real-time transperineal ultrasound, which will be used to measure changes in the anteroposterior diameter of urogenital hiatus (cm) between rest and PFM contraction. | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
| Displacement of the Bladder Neck | A real-time transperineal ultrasound, which will be used to measure changes in the displacement of the bladder neck (cm) between rest and PFM contraction. | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
| BG001 | Biofeedback | The biofeedback group will undergo PFMT with biofeedback and/or electrostimulation, administered twice a week over 8 weeks by a skilled physical therapist. During the biofeedback and electrical stimulation, participants will assume a supine position with a 45° angle of hip and knee flexion, refraining from actively contracting the PFMs. The intravaginal probe will be inserted into the vagina. The frequency of electrostimulation will be set between 10-50 Hz based on participant tolerance and the pulse duration will be adjusted to 300-500 μs. The stimulation intensity will be set at the maximum tolerable level. During biofeedback, participants will receive visual instructions to guide them in relaxing and contracting their PFMs. |
| BG002 | Usual Care Group | Participants allocated to the usual care (i.e., no physical therapy) group will receive the usual care provided by their obstetricians or gynecologists based on clinical judgment, in addition to the lifestyle advice leaflet provided by the research team. The lifestyle advice leaflet will be given to the participants immediately after the baseline assessment, and the usual care group will have no planned contact with the project staff until 8 weeks after the baseline assessment. |
| BG003 | Total | Total of all reporting groups |
| year |
|
| Sex/Gender, Customized | Count of Participants | Participants |
|
| Race and Ethnicity Not Collected | Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant. | Count of Participants | Participants |
|
| Body mass index | Mean | Standard Deviation | kg/m2 |
|
| Overall POP-Q stage | POP-Q staging was used to classify prolapse severity: Stage 0 = no prolapse Stage I = prolapse >1 cm above hymen Stage II = prolapse within 1 cm proximal or distal to hymen Stage III = prolapse >1 cm below hymen Stage IV = complete vaginal eversion Lower stages indicate less severe prolapse and better clinical outcomes. | Count of Participants | Participants |
|
| OG001 | Biofeedback | The biofeedback group will undergo PFMT with biofeedback and/or electrostimulation, administered twice a week over 8 weeks by a skilled physical therapist. During the biofeedback and electrical stimulation, participants will assume a supine position with a 45° angle of hip and knee flexion, refraining from actively contracting the PFMs. The intravaginal probe will be inserted into the vagina. The frequency of electrostimulation will be set between 10-50 Hz based on participant tolerance and the pulse duration will be adjusted to 300-500 μs. The stimulation intensity will be set at the maximum tolerable level. During biofeedback, participants will receive visual instructions to guide them in relaxing and contracting their PFMs. |
| OG002 | Usual Care Group | Participants allocated to the usual care (i.e., no physical therapy) group will receive the usual care provided by their obstetricians or gynecologists based on clinical judgment, in addition to the lifestyle advice leaflet provided by the research team. The lifestyle advice leaflet will be given to the participants immediately after the baseline assessment, and the usual care group will have no planned contact with the project staff until 8 weeks after the baseline assessment. |
|
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| Secondary | Distress Related to Pelvic Floor Dysfunction | The distress related to pelvic floor dysfunction will be assessed using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20). This instrument consists of 20 questions in three domains: urinary (6 questions), POP (6 questions), and colorectal-anal (8 questions). The total score ranges from 0 - 300. Higher values indicate greater distress caused by pelvic floor dysfunction. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
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| Secondary | Impact of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction | The impact of pelvic floor dysfunction will be assessed using the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7). This questionnaire consists of seven questions in three domains (urinary, POP, and colorectal-anal). The total score ranges from 0 - 300. Higher scores indicate greater impact. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
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| Secondary | Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength | Digital measurement of squeeze and lift strength, recorded using the modified Oxford scale in lying and standing positions will be used. The Modified Oxford Scale quantifies pelvic floor muscle strength as 0, no contraction; 1, flicker; 2, weak; 3, moderate; 4, good; and 5, strong. Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) strength will be measured over 3 seconds. Participants will need to repeat three MVC contractions, with a 3-second interval in between, and the best of three will be recorded. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
|
|
|
| Secondary | Pelvic Floor Muscle Endurance (Time) | Endurance will be measured by asking the participants to sustained an MVC and the sustained time will be recorded in seconds. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | seconds | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
|
|
|
| Secondary | Pelvic Floor Muscle Endurance (Repetition Number) | Endurance will also be measured by asking the participants to perform fast-twitch pelvic floor muscle contractions with each MVC lasting 1 second. Endurance will be recorded as the number of time of fast contractions that the participant can execute. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | contractions | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
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| Secondary | Anteroposterior Diameter of Urogenital Hiatus | A real-time transperineal ultrasound, which will be used to measure changes in the anteroposterior diameter of urogenital hiatus (cm) between rest and PFM contraction. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | cm | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
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| Secondary | Displacement of the Bladder Neck | A real-time transperineal ultrasound, which will be used to measure changes in the displacement of the bladder neck (cm) between rest and PFM contraction. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | cm | absolute values at baseline and 8 weeks |
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| Other Pre-specified | Acceptability of the Intervention and the Outcome Measures | Number of Participants Considered The Intervention Adequate | Posted | Count of Participants | Participants | 8 weeks |
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| 0 |
| 10 |
| 0 |
| 10 |
| 0 |
| 10 |
| EG001 | Biofeedback | The biofeedback group will undergo PFMT with biofeedback and/or electrostimulation, administered twice a week over 8 weeks by a skilled physical therapist. During the biofeedback and electrical stimulation, participants will assume a supine position with a 45° angle of hip and knee flexion, refraining from actively contracting the PFMs. The intravaginal probe will be inserted into the vagina. The frequency of electrostimulation will be set between 10-50 Hz based on participant tolerance and the pulse duration will be adjusted to 300-500 μs. The stimulation intensity will be set at the maximum tolerable level. During biofeedback, participants will receive visual instructions to guide them in relaxing and contracting their PFMs. | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| EG002 | Usual Care Group | Participants allocated to the usual care (i.e., no physical therapy) group will receive the usual care provided by their obstetricians or gynecologists based on clinical judgment, in addition to the lifestyle advice leaflet provided by the research team. The lifestyle advice leaflet will be given to the participants immediately after the baseline assessment, and the usual care group will have no planned contact with the project staff until 8 weeks after the baseline assessment. | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
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| D011613 |
| Psychotherapy |
| D004191 | Behavioral Disciplines and Activities |
| D030141 | Feedback, Psychological |
| II |
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| III |
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