Understanding how to make pelvic floor physical therapy easier to do for women with high tone pelvic floor dysfunction
Official title: Phenotypic differences in response to treatment for high tone pelvic floor dysfunction
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11273487 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant tests whether adding a pain-relief medicine called cyclobenzaprine to pelvic floor physical therapy helps people with high tone pelvic floor dysfunction stick with treatment and feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $670,800 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD120523-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11273487 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with high tone pelvic floor dysfunction who are candidates for pelvic floor physical therapy and may have pain limiting therapy participation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not respond to centrally-acting medications or have contraindications to cyclobenzaprine may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
For people with chronic pelvic pain caused by high tone pelvic floor dysfunction, the project explores whether combining pelvic floor physical therapy with a centrally acting muscle relaxant can improve adherence and outcomes. The study builds on evidence that centralized pain mechanisms can reduce response to peripheral therapies and that multi-pronged treatment may yield better results. Researchers will examine pain, participation in therapy, and symptom changes over time to see if the combination works better than standard therapy alone. The work is conducted at the University of Michigan with a patient-centered approach to reduce barriers to completing therapy and achieving meaningful relief.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience better pain control and higher participation in PFPT, leading to improved functional outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest that adjuvant strategies can enhance efficacy in related conditions, though this exact combination is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Till, Sara R — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Till, Sara R
Related research
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SmartWand System: a home pelvic floor therapy device for women
A connected at-home device guides women through pelvic floor therapy to help reduce chronic pelvic pain from high tone pelvic floor dysfunction.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.