Breathing training for postpartum stress urinary incontinence
The Effect of Breathing Training on Postpartum Stress Urinary Incontinence : A Randomized Controlled Trial
This trial will test whether adding guided breathing exercises to standard pelvic-floor rehabilitation helps women with postpartum stress urinary incontinence.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 58 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Guangzhou, Shenzhen) |
| Trial ID | NCT06623617 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Women 6 weeks to 6 months after childbirth who have been diagnosed with postpartum stress urinary incontinence will be randomly assigned to receive standard pelvic-floor rehabilitation alone or the same rehabilitation plus structured breathing training. Standard care includes routine postpartum examinations, health counseling, and individualized pelvic-floor therapies such as magnetic stimulation, EMG biofeedback, or manual therapy. Breathing training will be delivered under researcher supervision with bladder-emptying before each session, and adherence and adverse events will be monitored. Outcomes will compare urinary leakage and pelvic-floor function between groups over the follow-up period.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Women aged 18 years or older, between 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum, diagnosed with postpartum stress urinary incontinence by a pelvic-floor rehabilitation specialist and meeting the study's exclusion criteria are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with diabetes, BMI over 30 kg/m², significant cardiopulmonary, renal, or neurological dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse beyond stage II, prior lumbopelvic surgery, current pregnancy, or other exclusionary conditions may not receive benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding breathing training could reduce urine leakage and improve pelvic-floor function after childbirth.
How similar studies have performed: Pelvic-floor rehabilitation has established benefit for stress urinary incontinence, but the specific use of structured breathing training as an adjunct is relatively novel and has limited published clinical evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age: ≥18years 2. 6 weeks to 6 months postpartum 3. Diagnosed with postpartum stress urinary incontinence (PPSUI) by a pelvic floor rehabilitation specialist Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diabetes mellitus 2. Body mass index (BMI) \>30 kg/m² 3. Cardiopulmonary or renal dysfunction 4. Neurological disorders 5. Pelvic organ prolapse exceeding stage II 6. History of lumbopelvic surgery 7. Lumbopelvic pain 8. Concurrent treatments that may interfere with study outcomes 9. Professional athletes 10. Current pregnancy Withdrawal Criteria: 1. Failure to complete follow-up assessments 2. Loss of contact with participants Termination Criteria: 1. Immediate discontinuation if participants experience dizziness, chest tightness, palpitations, or dyspnea during training 2. Inability to continue intervention due to health issues (e.g., severe complications) 3. Pregnancy occurring during the intervention period 4. Non-compliance with prescribed breathing exercises 5. Participant-initiated withdrawal from the study
Where this trial is running
Guangzhou, Shenzhen
- Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University — Guangzhou, Shenzhen, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jie First Name: （jie） Middle initial: （） Degree: （Ph.D. candidate）
- Email: 1306172678@qq.com
- Phone: +86 151 1290 8469
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.